BANCROFT 
LIBRARY 

o 

THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


..... 


I  AMECBOTES  AND  INCIDENTS:  ! 


COMPRISING 


DARING  EXPLOITS, 

R 


M¥i31© 


ADVENTURES 

OF  ' 

OFFICERS  AND  PRIVATES  OE  THE  ARMY  LN  MEXICO, 
ACTIONS  OF  THE  NAVY, 

AND 


OF   THE    MEXICAN   WAR, 


EJftlTKD    BV   .1.   M. 

I.ATE   OF    1SV    OHIO    R2GIMENT. 


PUBLISHED  AT  PITTSBURGH, 

1848. 

FOR  SALE* BY  ALL  BOOKSELLERS  AND  NEWS  AGENTS 


PRICE  TWENTY-FIVE  CENTS. 

(••       .^ 

|     "'^SSSS3^S^S^^^3SSSSS 

_; ...  ,.  >r 


ANECDOTES  AID  INCIDENTS: 


COMPRISING 


DARING  EXPLOITS, 
PERSONAL  AND  AMUSING  ADVENTURES 

OF  THE 

OFFICERS  AND  PRIVATES  OF  THE  ARMY, 

*  AND 

THRILLING   INCIDENTS 

OF   THE    MEXICAN  WAR. 


EDITED  BY  J.  M.  WYNKOOP, 

LATE  OF  1st  OHIO  REGIMENT. 


PUBLISHED  AT  PITTSBURGH, 

1848. 

FOR  SALE  BY  ALL  BOOKSELLERS  AND  NEWS  AGENTS. 


1A77    7.  i    ->>7.''  N' 


K 


PREFACE. 

THE  brilliant  operations  of  both  divisions  of  the 
American  army  in  Mexico  have  been  themes  of 
universal  admiration,  and  the  acclaim  of  the  world 
has  rendered  a  deserving  tribute  to  the  masterly 
qualities  of  our  generals.  Buena  Vista  stands  upon 
the  page  of  history  as  one  of  the  most  gallant  defen 
ces  of  modern  times ;  while  the  rapid  and  successful 
movements  of  General  Scott  are,  perhaps,  unparal 
leled.  To  mention  this,  however,  is  a  work  of 
supererogation;  it  can  add  nothing  to  the  laurel 
wreath  that  encircles  the  brows  of  our  officers  and 
soldiers,  whose  patriotism  is  only  excelled  by  their 
gallantry  on  the  field  of  battle. 

No  war  has  been  more  prolific  in  interesting  per 
sonal  detail  and  thrilling  incident  than  that  between 
the  United  States  and  Mexico.  The  Peninsular 
War  affords,  perhaps,  the  only  parallel;  and  even 
the  heroic  and  brilliant  exploits  of  that  era  have 
been  fully  equalled  by  our  gallant  army;  while 
the  peculiar  character  of  Mexican  fighting  has 
rendered  personal  daring  and  sacrifice  absolutely 
necessary.  The  interest  excited  in  the  minds  of 
the  American  people,  to  know  and  learn  all  that  is 


IV.  PREFACE. 


possible  of  their  soldiers,  who  are  either  their  per 
sonal  friends,  or  have  left  homes  contiguous  to 
their  own,  led  the  editor  to  undertake  the  compi 
lation  of  these  pages.  And,  he  believes,  that,  by 
mingling  the  "  grave  and  the  gay,"  as  he  has  done, 
the  public  have  the  most  interesting  view  of  the 
war  that  has  yet  been  presented  them. 

The  present  volume  purports  only  to  contain  the 
personal  adventures  of  the  officers  and  privates  of 
our  army,  together  with  the  most  brilliant  exploits 
of  the  war.  It  is,  of  course,  no  attempt  at  an  histor 
ical  record ;  though,  doubtless,  most  if  not  all  of 
the  incidents  are  authentic.  The  volume,  it  will  be 
easily  perceived,  is  chiefly  a  compilation,  yet  the 
editor  has  not  deemed  it  necessary  to  give  his 
authorities  in  every  instance.  He  hopes  that  it  may 
prove  acceptable,  and  that  the  discrepancies  and 
deficiences,  which  a  hurried  compilation  may  easily 
occasion,  and  which  doubtless  exist  in  the  present 
volume,  may  meet  with  the  indulgence  of  a  liberal 
and  candid  public. 


THE   EDITOR. 

Zanesville,  O.  April,  1848. 


CONTENTS. 


N 


Burning  of  the  Creole,  .-.-.,.- 9 

Giving  the  Countersign, ^ Af 12 

Making  a  Priest  drunk, .  13 

The  grief  of  an  old  Soldier  at  the  <leath  of  his  Commander, .-. 15 

Camp  Ventriloquism, .  ^ 17 

Origin  of  "  Rough  and  Ready,"  . ; .  ^ 18 

"Yankee  Doodle,"..  ^ -.  .  19 

Lieutenant  Morris, ^ . . 20 

Charley  Bugher. ^ 20 

"  Wooling  "  General- Wool, 21 

Napoleon's  Veteran, 22 

An  Adventure  with  a  Nun,  . .....-..-.-.-. 23 

The  Repulse  at  Buena  Vista,  and  Fall  of  Henry  Clay,  Jr 25 

"  General  Taylor  never  surrenders  !"  .' 27 

Death  of  a  Soldier, .-.-. ..:-.-.;  •.•.-.-.......-. 27 

The  Man  that  spoke  Mexican, 28 

Scenes  at  the  Quartermaster's, 29 

The  Military  Tailor, 31 

Dan  Murphy, ..;..;. ; ......;... 33 

Charge  of  Captain  May  at  Resaca  de  la  Palma, i . ... —  ..  34 

Lieutenant  Newman, -. . . ^ 35 

Anecdote  of  Captain  Mason, .;. 36 

An  Attempt  to  Capture  Santa  Anna, —  37 

Captain  Jo ... 39 

The  Soldier's  Bible 40 

Anecdote  of  Santa  Anna, —  ....  < ^  —  * 41 

"  Ten  Strike — Set  'em  up  !  " .• 42 

"Give  them  H— 11!"  . 43 

Serenading  vs.  Discipline, 44 

Ludicrous  Picture  of  General  Pillow, ..* 44 

Death  of  Major  Ringgold, ..  — 46 

General  Taylor's  Good  Things, 47 

A  Thrilling  Incident,  . . . .  ,, —  -* 43 

The  Lame  Drummer, . 50 

Captain  Baylor's  fight  with  Guerillas, 51 

Swappin'  Hosses, 52 

Bombardment  of  Fort  Brown, 53 

1* 


VI.  CONTENTS. 

An  American  Matron, 56 

Anecdote  of  General  Urrea, 56 

Anecdote  of  Captain  Coffy, 57 

Storming  of  Chapultepec, . 58 

Lessons  at  "  Single  Stick," 60 

Battle  of  Htiamantla,  and  Death  of  Captain  Walker, 61 

Camp  Hydropathy, 64 

Colonel  Wynkoop  and  Captain  Walker, 65 

The  Night  after  the  Battle  of  Buena  Vista, 66 

Capture  and  Death  of  a  Mexican  Fanatic, , 67 

Incident  at  Buena  Vista, „ 63 

Rum  vs.  Soldier, 69 

Captain  Henrie, 70 

Magnanimity  of  General  Shields, 72 

A  Texan  Ranger, 73 

"I  couldn't  help  it|" 74 

Applying  to  the  Head  Boss, 74 

An  Affecting  Scene, ..  77 

Santa  Anna's  Gamecocks,  .. 78 

The  Rifles, 79 

Capture  of  Alvarado, — 80 

The  Eloquence  of  Action, 81 

Charge  of  the  Mississippians  at  Buena  Vista, 82 

Incident  at  Cerro  Gordo,  . 83 

Alexander  Kunze, 84 

Execution  of  Deserters, — 85 

Appearance  of  General  Taylor, .. .  86 

Bob  Walker, 86 

A  Noble  Recruit, 87 

How  they  died  in  Battle, 88 

The  Late  Levi  Gantt,. 89 

"Crowd  'em!" 90 

Inhuman  Massacre, 91 

Incident  related  by  General  Shields, 92 

Captain  Burgwin, .. .  — — . . . .  93 

Horrors  of  War, 93 

"  Not  too  good  te  be  looked  at," 94 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Graham, 95 

Anecdote  of  General  Taylor, 97 

Lieutenant  Burbank, 98 

Anecdote  of  General  Smith, 97 

General  Quitman, ..... .. ...... .. ... . ......  99 

Characteristic, 100 

Jarauta,  the  Guerilla, „ 100 

Execution  of  Mexican  Officers, 101 

A  Brilliant  Exploit, 102 


CONTENTS.  Vli. 

Captain  Roberts, 103 

Capture  of  General  Valencia, 104 

A  Palmetto  Soldier, 105 

Baron  Von  Grone,.. . 106 

Captain  Johnston, 107 

Anecdote  of  the  Indiana  Regiment,    109 

Capture  of  Midshipman  Rodgers,   110 

Cutting  out  the  Mexican  Brig  Condor,* Ill 

Eating  a  Mexican, 114 

Costly  Uniform, 113 

Mexican  Cavalry  Officers, 116 

Capture  of  Captain  Thornton's  Command, 118 

Captain  Butler, 119 

Fremont's  Extraordinary  Ride, .  121 

The  Man  that  was  not  born  to  be  killed  by  a  Shell, 124 

"A  fire  in  the  Rear," 125 

Generals  Taylor  and  Ampudia, 127 

Military  Etiquette, 123 

General  Taylor  and  the  Volunteers, 129 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Duncan, 130 

Major  General  Pillow, 131 


ANECDOTES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

«*«l6.t-- 

Burning  of  the  Creole. 

The  most  brilliant  exploit  of  the  war  was,  doubtless,  the 
burning  of  the  Mexican  Schooner  "Creole,"  under  the  walls 
of  the  Castle  of  San  Juan  d'Ulloa,  by  Lieutenant  Parker, 
since  deceased.  It  was  boldly  and  gallantly  done,  and 
evinced  the  ripeness  of  our  navy  for  deeds  of  utmost  daring. 
There  was  a  touch  of  downright  "  devil  may  care"  courage 
about  the  transaction  which  is  as  refreshing  as  the  adven 
tures  of  ancient  .knight  errantry. 

The  United  States  Brig  Somers  lay  about  four  miles 
from  the  Castle ;  having  been  left  by  the  rest  of  the  squad 
ron,  (which  was  absent  on  the  Tampico  expedition,)  to  keep 
up  the  blockade  of  Vera  Cruz.  The  inactive  and  monot 
onous  life  of  those  on  board  the  Somers,  led  them  to  form 
enterprizes  to  relieve  themselves  from  the  excessive  ennui  of 
their  situation ;  and  the  feasibility  of  burning  the  Creole  at 
her  moorings,  as  she  lay  within  pistol  shot  of  the  Castle,  had 
been  frequently  discussed,  and  it  was  finally  executed  in  the 
most  brilliant  and  successful  manner,  by  three  officers  and 
five  men,  in  a  single  boat. 

The  officers  engaged  were  Lieutenant  J.  L.  Parker, 
and  Passed  Midshipmen  J.  R.  Hynson  and  Robert  C.  Rog 
ers.  The  affair  was  finally  started  on  the  impulse  of  the 
moment,  without  the  cognizance  of  either  the  Captain  or  the 
first  Lieutenant.  Several  officers  of  the  vessel,  who  were  in 
the  secret  of  the  plot,  were  extremely  anxious  to  participate 
in  its  execution,  but  the  limited  accommodations  of  the 


10  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

boat,  united  with  the  probability  of  having  prisoners  to  bring 
back,  besides  her  own  crew,  precluded  more  than  three 
officers  going  with  prudence. 

When  the  little  party  left  the  Somers  at  Sacrificios,  they 
counted  upon  the  setting  of  the  moon  before  the  moment  of 
attack  ;  but  as  the  boat's  crew  approached  a  point  where  the 
proximity  to  the  enemy  made  it  as  hazardous  to  pause  as  to 
proceed  ;  the  queen  of  the  night  was  still  beaming  just  above 
a  cloudless  horizon.  When  within  three  or  four  boat  lengths 
of  the  Creole,  however,  she  sank  behind  the  distant  high 
lands,  but  her  disappearance  only  served  to  disclose  another 
in  the  large  revolving  beacon  light  of  the  castle,  which,  at  the 
distance  of  less  than  one  hundred  yards,  threw  its  intense  glare 
directly  upon  the  boat.  One  of  the  officers,  in  describing  its 
appearance  as  he  gazed  upon  the  apparently  innumerable 
dazzling  panes,  as  they  turned  one  after  another,  remarked  that 
they  looked  to  him  like  ten  thousand  illuminated  wheelbar 
rows  going  round  and  round.  Thus  they  could  hardly  hope 
to  escape  detection,  supposing  it  was  feasible  to  board  at  any 
point. 

The  little  party  ran  upon  the  larboard  beam  of  the  Creole, 
and  passed  within  about  seventy-five  yards  of  the*  British 
mail  steamer  Clyde,  from  which  vessel  they  were  repeatedly 
hailed.  The  Clyde  was,  fortunately,  to  windward,  however, 
and  was  not  at  all  incommoded  or  endangered  by  the  opera 
tions  about  to  be  undertaken. 

There  were  three  men  leaning  on  the  railing  of  the  Creole 
as  they  came  alongside,  to  whom  Lieutenant  Parker,  who 
spoke  their  language  like  a  native,  represented  himself  as  sent 
upon  business  by  a  friendly  merchant  vessel  lying  at  Sacrifi 
cios.  This  quieted  the  Mexicans  for  a  moment,  but  a  clash 
ing  of  the  arms  of  the  party,  as  they  clambered  up  the  ves 
sel's  sides,  alarmed  them  again,  and  they  at  once  hailed  their 
brother  sentinels  on  the  castle  walls.  The  alarm  bell  was 
rung,  there  was  a  rapid  passing  to  and  fro  on  the  battlements, 


BURNING  OF  THE  CREOLE.  11 

and  a  display  of  lights  in  different  parts  of  the  town  ;  yet  the 
little  party  persevered  in  their  efforts,  mounted  the  decks  of 
the  schooner,  and  secured  every  man  on  board,  to  the  amount 
of  seven,  prisoners,  and  proceeded  to  lay  the  train  for  setting 
her  on  fire  ;  the  first  attempt  failed  ;  the  light  was  then  acci 
dentally  extinguished — everything  looked  ominous  of  failure. 
The  use  of  fireaVms  would  have  provoked  the  fire  of  the 
castle.  One  of  the  Mexicans  was  forced  to  find  fire  with  a 
pistol  at  his  head.  It  was  a  bright  coal,  and  it  was  on  the 
point  of  going  out.  To  save  the  last  chance,  Mr.  Hynson 
then  poured  powder  from  his  hand  and  succeeded,  but  he 
was  considerably  burned.  After  getting  into  the  boat,  it  was 
feared  that  the  fire  would  not  burn,  when  the  officers  returned 
to  make  all  sure  by  making  a  second  fire  ;  and,  it  is  said, 
that  having  no  other  material,  they  tore  up  their  shirt  tails, 
which  burned  remarkably  well.  The  American  shirts  have 
been  put  to  a  good  many;  uses  during  the  present  War  ;  at 
Tuspan  a  part  of  one  was  a  flag  of  truce,  at  the  Resaca  they 
served  to  bind  up  wounds,  and  at  Vera  Cruz  assisted  in 
burning  the  Creole. 

As  they  cast  off  from  the  burning  vessel,  and  when  still 
within  pistol  shot  of  the  castle,  and  with  the  muzzles  of  the 
huge  guns  plainly  visible,  the  party  gav£  three  hearty  cheers. 
These  failing  to  provoke  a  single  gun,  the  impatience  of  the 
gallant  tars  vented  itself  in  curses.  It  would  appear  that  the 
Mexicans  from  the  incessant  ringing  of  bells,  must  have  ap 
prehended  a  general  attack,  and  were  too  intently  engaged 
in  mustering  and  flying  about  to  discover  the  little  boat's 
crew.  The  whole  affair  appears  afterwards  to  have  annoyed 
them  immeasureably,  while,  at  the  same  time,  it  would  go 
far  to  shew  that  the  guns  of  San  Juan  de  Uloa  offered  little 
protection  unless  the  garrison  have  vigilance  to  discover  an 
enemy,  and  presence  of  mind  enough  to  fire  upon  him  after 
he  is  seen. 

The  suspicions   of  the  Mexicans,  as  might  be  expected, 


12  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

under  the  first  impulse  of  exasperation,  and  reckless  of  rea 
son  or  truth,  they  are  said  to  have  gratuitously  charged  the 
English  with  aiding  the  Americans  by  hoisting  a  light — a 
light — a  falsehood  hardly  deserving  of  contradiction.  A  light 
was  hoisted  by  the  Somers,  which  the  alarm  of  the  enemy 
must  have  magnified  into  two.  The  Mexicans  have,  how 
ever,  become  very  vigilant  since  the  occurrence,  and  a  few 
nights  afterwards  fired  upon  what  must  have  been  some  prom 
inent  rocks  of  the  reef  close  by,  mistaking  them  for  boats ! 


Giving  the  Countersign. 

One  of  that  fine  regiment,  popularly  spoken  of  as  Colonel 
Stevenson's  California  boysj  was  put  on  guard  by  way  of  ini 
tiating  him  into  the  mysteries  of  a  sentinel's  duties.  With 
the  pass-word — "Newport" — were  given  to  him  strict  injunc 
tions  to  shoot  the  first  man  approaching  or  departing  from 
the  island,  who  did  not  pronounce  the  shibboleth  of  the 
hour. 

The  raw  youth  shouldered  his  musket,  and  soon  all  sounds 
were  hushed  save  the  echo  of  his  own  solitary  walk,  as  mo 
notonously  he  trod  the  beaten  path.  But  anon  and  the  sound 
of  footsteps,  and  then  a  heavy  plunge  into  the  water  caught 
his  ear,  and  running  to  the  spot,  he  hailed  in  the  direction  of 
the  sound,  "  Holloo — who  goes  there?"  "A  friend,"  was 
the  prompt  reply.  "  Then  if  you  be  a  friend  say  Newport, 
or  I'll  shoot." 

Great  was  the  laughter,  and  not  small  the  vexation  of  the 
sergeant  of  the  guard,  who  was  in  a  tent  near  the  speaker. 
Of  course  he  had  to  call  in  the  whole  of  the  guard,  and 
change  the  countersign. 


MAKING    A    PRIEST    DRUNK.  1.3. 

Making  a  Priest  Drunk. 

Mendicant  Priests  are  constantly  going  about  the  streets  of 
all  the  cities  of  Mexico,  begging  alms  for  the  "Holy  Virgin," 
carrying  a  little  tin  box  to  receive  the  gifts  of  the  benevolent. 
One  of  these  entered  a  restaurant  just  after  a  score  or  more 
of  American  officers  had  dined  ;  all  in  that  peculiar  mellow 
ness  of  humor  which  a  good  dinner  seldom  fails  to  excite  in 
a  set  of  fellows  who  are  not  epicures,  but,  still  admirers  of 
"wot  is  good ;"  and  this,  added  to  the  gurgling  of  the  wine 
that  was  hissing  around,  besides  numerous  other  strong  drinks, 
embracing  the  whole  vocabulary  of  punch  and  toddy,  had 
placed  the  drinkers  in  what  might  be  termed  the  quintessence 
of  a  jolly  state  ;  not  drunk,  Oh,  no !  Gentlemen  never  get 
drunk  !  Gentlemen  only  get  merry  !  Very  merry,  sometime?, 
however  ! 

The  tin  box  was  protruded.  The  reverend  father  raised 
his  pious  visage  toward  heaven,  muttering  several  words  that 
nobody  understood  ;  though,  quite  likely,  invocations  to  scores 
of  saints  (whose  pronunciation  would  be  more  difficult  than 
the  pronunciation  of  Webster's  unpronouncable  Dictionary,) 
to  hear  his  pious  prayers,  and  open  the  hearts  of  these  sinning 
rascalg  who  came  to  rob  the  church,  and  cause  their  purses 
to  pour  like  a  golden  shower  into  the  reception  box  of  the  land ! 
Praiseworthy  occupation,  truly !  And  the  priest  seemed 
desirous  of  testing  the  belief  or  benevolence  of  his  company, 
for  he  immediately  petitions  in  a  mixture  of  English  and 
Spanish  to  "give  a  mite  for  the  souls  of  the  wretched." 

Captain  who  generally  undertook  to  be  spokes 
man  of  the  party,  in  trying  circumstances,  being  peculiarly 
gifted  with  the  properties  of  blarney.  In  proof  of  which  prop 
erties  of  blarney,  it  is  related,  that  said  Captain  stopped  the 
entire  fire  of  a  Mexican  battery  of  six  8  pounders,  at  Cerro 
Gordo,  by  running  up  to  the  gunners  as  they  were  applying 
the  match  to  the  touch-hole,  and  telling  them  in  Spanish  that 

"they  were  d d  fools,  frightening  themselves  so,  firing 

2 


14  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

off  cannon,  wasting  so  much  powder,  just  to  blow  to  flinders 
the  heads  of  those  good  fellows  coming  up  the  hill,  yonder, 
who  would  give  each  one  of  them  a  flask  of  good  liquor,  a 
knapsack  of  pork  and  crackers,  and  safe  quarters  to  boot ! 
He'd  pledge  his  word  to  that !  that  he  would  !  and  he  would 
cut  his  own  noddle  off  just  so,  if  there  was  any  failure  in  the 
treaty."  At  the  same  time  clipping  a  Mexican's  head  in 
corroboration  of  his  assertion.  His  men  coming  up  in  the 
meantime,  enabled  the  courageous  captain  to  give  the  Mex 
icans  safe  quarters,  and  the  extra  too,  that  is,  if  his  men 
would  ratify  the  treaty  ! 

"Mr.  Priest  Sackcloth!  you're  a  priest,  you  are!  I'm  a 
soldier,  I  am  !  You  want  some  "rhino!"  I've  got  the  article 
damme!  At  the  same  time  producing  a  handful  of  "pica 
yunes"  "bits"  and  "etc."  Now,  Sir  Sackcloth,  I  venerate 
your  calling !  so  much  like  our  own — robbing  d — n  fools  ! 
But,  you're  a  Catholic — we  "is'nt!"  We  like  a  horn — • 
you  "dos'nt"  Now,  if  you'll  take  a  horn,  we'll  take  a  little 
Catholicism ;  that  is,  pay  the  dimes,  the  quintessence  of 
Catholicism.  The  Priest  was  no  drunkard,  not  he  indeed  ; 
though  the  usual  prescription  for  monkish  head-ache  is  a  little 
brandytoddy  made  hot — very  hot,  with  a  nun  to  pour  it. — 
But  "here  was  an  honorable  compromise,"*  it  was  no  harm, 
surely,  to  drink  in  the  cause  of  the  Virgin  ?  So  thought  the 
priest,  and  swallowed  a  stiff  horn.  The  benevolent  feelings 
of  the  entire  company  were  awakened,  and  "picayunes"  and 
'bits'  chinked  into  the  box,  and  'horn'  after  'horn'  flowed  down 
the  pious  father's  throat,  calling  forth,  as  it  gurgled  in  his 
mouth,  myriads  of  blessings  on  the  patrons  of  the  holy  saints. 
The  priest's  visage  warmed  into  a  natural  glow ;  and  the 
liquor  ran  down  his  throat  as  if  there  had  been  a  stream  run- 


Here  was  an  honorable  compromise, 

A  halfway  house  of  diplomatic  trust, 
Where  they  might  meet  in  much  mor»  peaceful  guise, 

And  Juan  now  his  willingness  exprest 

Don,  Juan. 


DEATH    OF    COL.    SCOTT.  15 

ning  that  way  all  his  life,  as  the  pence  had  into  his  tin  box. 
The  pious  father  became  jolly,  and  went  around  the  com 
pany  dancing  a  jig,  rather  than  a  saintly  walk,  and  singing 
his  prayers  to  the  Virgin  in  good  round  numbers. 

And  he  now  took  the  'horn'  not  caring  much  whether 
the  '  bit'  went  into  the  can  or  not.  He  had  got  round  the 
company,  and  was  pretty  full  of  'horns'  and  'bits',  but  still 
he  seemed  loth  to  depart.  He  did  not  find  such  philanthro 
pists  every  day. 

"More — hie — tod — hie — dy  ! — hie — more — hie — bits — 
hie  !"  Essayed  the  priest. 

"Joily  old  Friar !" 

Began  one  of  the  company.  The  priest  caught  the  strain, 
and  sallied  into  the  street,  with  his  tin  box  in  one  hand,  and 
with  the  other  donned  his  canoed  beaver  to  his  generous  pat- 
trons  ;  yet  in  replacing  it,  he  could  not  get  it  to  ride  other 
wise  than  aslant,  and  thus  he  wielded  his  tin  box,  singing  as 
he  went  along,  his  beaver  topling  on  one  side — 

-.,,  "Jollv  old  Friar  !" 


The  grief  of  an  old  Soldier  at  the  death  of  his  Commander, 
Col.  Martin  Scott. 

Passing  over  the  battle-field  of  Molino  del  Rey,  immedi 
ately  after  our  victorious  standard  had  been  planted  on  the 
enemy's  works,  where  lay  the  dead  and  wounded  mingled 
together,  my  attention  was  attracted  to  different  places,  by 
the  scenes  of  grief  and  sorrow — scenes  which  pained  my 
feelings  and  shocked  my  sight — there  I  found  many  acquain 
tances,  dead  and  wounded,  whom  I  had  seen  but  a  short  time 
previous  full  of  health,  and  with  buoyant  spirits,  marching  at 
the  head  of  their  commands,  in  the  strong  hope  of  soon,  by 
their  noble  deeds  and  heroic  valor,  achieving  fame  for  them- 


16  ANECDOTES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

selves  and  honor  for  their  country.     But,  alas  I  how  uncer 
tain  are  the  ways  of  life  ;  there  I  found  the  strong  youth  and 
the  aged  veteran,  who  fell  side  by  side,  to   rise  no  more. 
Many  of  the  most  noble  souls  of  the  army,  and  the  pride  of 
the  country's  chivalry,  there  performed  their  last  gallant  acts 
on  the  stage  of  life.    After  going  over  a  portion  of  the  ground, 
and  finding  here  and  there  a  valued  acquaintance,  my  atten 
tion  was  attracted  to  a  grey  headed  veteran,  who  was  stand 
ing  by  the  side  of  one  who  had  fallen.     He  leisurely  took  his 
blanket  from  his  back,  and  spread  it  over  the  corpse  with 
great  care.     I  rode  up  to  him,  and  asked  him  whether  that 
was  an  officer.     He  looked  up,  and  every  lineament  of  his 
face  betokening  the  greatest  grief,  replied,  "You  never  asked 
a  question  more  easily  answered;  it  is  an  officer."     J  then 
asked  him  who  it  was.     He  again  replied,  "The  best  soldier 
of  the  5th  infantry,  sir."     I  then  alighted  from  my  horse,  and 
uncovering  the  face,  found  it  was  Col.  Martin  Scott.     As  I 
again  covered  the  face,  the  soldier  continued,  without  appa 
rently  addressing  himself  to  any  person  in  particular — "They 
have  killed  him — they  will  be  paid  for  this — if  it  had  only 
been  me — I  have  served  with  him  almost  four  enlistments — 
but  what  will  his  poor  family  say?"     And  as  he  concluded 
thus,  the  tears  coursed  down  his  furrowed  cheeks,  and  the 
swelling  of  his  bosom  showed  how  deeply  he  was  affected 
by^the  death  of  his  veteran  and  gallant  commander.    Could 
there  have  been  anything  more  affecting  than  the  grief  of 
this  soldier  on  the  battle-field  ?     And  how  truly  sublime  and 
eloquent  was  his  reply  to  me,  that  it  was  "the  best  soldier  of 
the  5th  infantry."     If  the  greatest  orator  of  the  age  had  dwelt 
upon  the  memory  of  a  departed  friend  until    he  had  exhaus 
ted  his  eulogy  and  eloquence,  he  could  not  have  said  any 
thing  which  would  make  a  greater  impression  on  our  feelings 
than  did  the  reply  of  this  soldier.     Col.  Martin  Scott  was 
among  the  "bravest  of  the  brave."     He  fought  his  way  into 
the  army  in  the  Jast  war  with  Great  Britain ;  since  that  time 


CAMP    VENTRILOQUISM.  17 

he  has  been  one  of  the  brightest  ornaments,  and  has  signally 
distinguished  himself  in  the  war  with  Mexico,  for  which  he 
has  been  promoted  and  brevetted. — Letter  from  an  Officer. 


Camp  Ventriloquism. 

Gen.  WooFs  strict  principles  of  discipline  are  frequently 
of  great  annoyance  to  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  army, 
especially  to  the  volunteer  corps,  who  have  but  little  respect 
for  their  officers,  and  still  less  for  determinate  sticklers  to 
discipline. 

A  private  in  the  Indiana  regiment  had  frequently  felt  the 
effects  of  Gen.  Wool's  discipline  ;  and,  of  course,  conceived 
that  it  was  aimed  particularly  at  himself;  he,  therefore,  was 
actuated  by  no  very  friendly  feelings  towards  the  general. 
Upon  one  occasion,  as  the  general  passed  the  regiment  in 
review,  he  was  saluted  with  the  unusual  sound  of  "Old 
Wooley ! "  The  fiery  little  general  turned  round  on  his 
saddle,  when  immediately  from  the  other  side  of  the  horse 
arose  a  gruff  voice,  "  Old  Wooley !"  "Who  dare" — 
commenced  the  general,  in  an  enraged  tone  of  voice,  but  he 
was  interrupted  by  a  different  toned  voice  from  the  former, 
— "  Old  Wooley  !  "  The  general's  choler  was  up  ;  his 
'  Ebenezer  was  fairly  riz  !  '  He  turned  the  head  of  his 
horse  so  as  to  face  the  line  of  soldiers,  and  was  about  to 
give  utterance  to  some  expression  of  rage,  when  a  voice, 
apparently  just  by  his  horse's  tail,  squeeked  "Old  Wooley !" 
This  was  too  bad.  The  little  general  was  boiling  with  rage  ; 
his  horse  cut  a  quick  caper,  that  fairly  beat  the  renowned 
ponies  in  their  polkas.  But  no  one  was  by  the  horse's  tail. 
The  general  looked  at  his  staff — the  staff  looked  at  the  gen 
eral.  "  Some  trick,"  essayed  Colonel ;  "  Trick  or  no 

trick,  it's " — here  the  general  was  cut  short  by  the  old 
sound,  "  Old  Wooley!  "  "Arrest  the  offender!  "  shouted 
2* 


18  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

the  general.  Very  good  ;  but  the  offender  was  not  to  be 
found.  The  officers  looked  along  the  line,  behind,  around, 
in  every  direction.  The  general  was  almost  bursting  with 
rage — universal  silence  again  reigned — he  raised  himself  in 
his  stirrups,  as  if  about  to  read  a  disciplinarian  lecture  to  the 
corps  of  soldiers,  but  was  again  interrupted  by  a  low  chuck 
ling  voice,  close  by  him,  "  Give't  up,  old  Wooley  !  "  The 
officers  could  contain  themselves  no  longer ;  a  universal  roar 
of  laughter  saluted  the  disciplinarian,  who  was  forced  to 
smile  in  spite  of  himself.  "  It  must  be  the  devil  himself." 
said  Wool  to  an  officer  near  by.  "  Perhaps  some  Ventrilo 
quist  ?  "  The  mystery  was  solved  !  But  who  was  the  guilty 
character?  No  one  knew;  all  the  officers  were  interrogated, 
but  none  knew  of  a  Ventriloquist  in  their  ranks.  "Did  n't 
I  give  it  to  him  ?  "  whispered  the  Indianian  to  one  of  his 
messmates.  "You  did  nothing  shorter!  But  I'll  be  hanged, 
Ned,  if  I  did  n't  think  that  awful  visage  of  yours  was  goin' 
to  bust;  you  pulled  such  darnation  queer  faces!  " 


Origin  of  "Rough  and  Ready.11 

We  have  all  heard  that  the  soubriquet  of  Rough  and 
Ready  had  its  origin  in  the  Florida  war,  in  which  General 
Taylor  treated  the  red-skins  in  the  roughest  way  and  readiest 
manner.  It  was  first  used  in  the  present  war  during  the  May 
Battles.  After  the  memorable  battles  of  Resaca  de  la  Palma 
and  Palo  Alto,  the  old  general  directed  the  men  to  be  brought 
up  before  him  in  review,  which  was  of  course  done.  While 
reviewing  them  to  see,  no  doubt,  how  they  looked  after  their 
scrimmage  with  the  yellow  bellies;  an  old  soldier,  who  served 
u»der  him  in  the  Florida  war,  proposed,  at  the  top  of  his 
voice,  "  Three  cheers  for  Old  Rough  and  Ready !  "  which 
were  given  with  all  the  honors.  As  soon  as  they  had  subsi 
ded,  the  old  general,  every  feature  of  his  open  countenance 


YANKEE    DOODLE.  19 

speaking  volumes,  gracefully  took  off  his  chapeau,  and  re 
turned  thanks,  and  added,  "  Gentleman,  I  would  be  happy 
to  treat  you  all,  but  I  hare  got  nothing  except  some  Rio 
Grande  water  with  which  to  do  it !  " 


"Yankee  Doodle." 

The  Teatro  de  Santa  Anna,  assumed  the  name  of  "  Na 
tional  Theatre"  after  the  entrance  of  the  American  army ; 
and,  of  course,  was  liberally  patronized  by  the  Americans. 
One  evening,  as  usual  the  orchestra,  after  having  played 
several  airs,  finished  with  a  Mexican  National  Air.  The 
audience,  being  chiefly  American,  called  for  "  Yankee 
Doodle";  but  the  orchestra  paid  no  attention.  They  stamped 
and  rapped  as  if  they  would  bring  the  house  down  over  their 
heads,  but  still  the  orchestra  heeded  not.  At  length  the  bell 
rang,  and  up  went  the  curtain.  The  audience  seemed  for 
an  instant  as  if  they  were  willing  to  give  it  up;  but  at  this 
moment,  a  tall,  slab-sided-looking  genius,  who  bore  the  ap^ 
pearance  of  being  a  real  thorough-bred  volunteer,  of  the  first 
water,  raised  himself  about  "  half  straight,"  and  said — "I 
often  heard  that  Yankee  Doodle  was  the  American  fiightin' 
tune,  but  as  the  darned  eternal  greasers  keep  us  so  busy 
while  we  are  fightin',  that  we  could  n't  have  time  even  to 
whistle  a  little,  I  think  we  might  have  a  Iktle  touch  of  Oncle 
Sam's  favorite,  if  it's  only  to  make  a  feller  think  of  the 
white  settlements."  This  acted  like  an  electric  shock  upon 
the  audience,  and  they  recommenced  their  calls  for  Yankee 
Doodle.  The  actors  appeared  upon  the  stage,  but  still  they 
continued  to  stamp  and  haloo.  Sen-ora  Canette  bowed 
gracefully,  and  smiled  bewitchingly ;  but  it  was  no  use'; 
they  had  determined  upon  hearing  our  national  air,  and 
nothing  could  persuade  them  from  it.  The  actors  withdrew, 
the  curtain  fell,  the  orchestra  complied  with  their  demand?, 


f 

20  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

and  the  balance  of  the  evening's  entertainment  passed  off  in 
excellent  order.  "Ah,"  said  a  Mexican  gentlemen  to  an 
American  officer,  "  It  is  no  longer  a  source  of  surprise  to 
me  that  we  have  been  so  easily  conquered.  Soldiers,  who 
place  love  of  country  before  the  smiles  of  the  fair  sex,  would 
conquer  the  world  !  " 


Lieut.  Morris. 

In  the  late  conflict  near  Mexico,  soon  after  Major  Twiggs, 
of  the  Marines,  was  killed,  Lieut.  Morris,  of  the  Rifles,  was 
ordered  to  make  a  charge,  in  order  to  attain  a  certain  point. 
Deeming  his  men  too  few  for  the  undertaking,  and  seeing  the 
Marines  without  an  officer,  he  ordered  them  to  help  him. 
They  replied,  that  he  was  no  officer  of  theirs,  aud  refused — 
he  remonstrated,  and  they  still  refused.  Finding  authority 
and  remonstrance  of  no  avail,  he  shouted  to  them — "Marines, 
I  am  the  son  of  Com.  Morris — if  you  have  any  veneration 
for  his  memory,  follow  me."  The  appeal  was  irresistible — 
their  sailor  hearts  were  touched,  and  with  a  cry  of  joy,  they 
bounded  forward,  and  shared  his  dangers  and  his  perils,  until 
success  was  obtained. 

>   if  :m?"».  Ifjmw)  ?:^5  *-   fa*.!  f'Jt!«>3 
Charley  Bugher. 

There  are  but  Few  persons  in  Boston  who  do  not  remem 
ber  Charley  Bugher.  He  was  noted  for  his  remarkable  suc 
cess  in  every  enterprise  he  undertook.  Charley  was  the 
first  to  present  the  citizens  ©f  Boston  with  the  late  Foreign 
papers.  By  boarding  the  steamer  at  an  early  hour,  he  was 
enabled  to  have  his  budget  sold  long  before  the  City  press 
had  issued  their  extras,  reaping  at  the  same  time  a  very 
handsome  profit 

But  what  yankee  ever  staid  at  home  all  his  life?  Charley 
went  to  the  wars  for  the  fun  of  the  thing,  though  not  as  a 


21 

soldier,  but  as  a  "  volunteer  on  his  own  hook ;"  who  'chose 
to  fight  where  the  game  was  most  promising.  He  was 
noted  for  his  coolness  and  self-possession.  Before  the  works 
of  Valencia,  near  the  capital,  he  was  calmly  loading  his  gun, 
in  a  position  separated  from  the  main  body  of  the  army,  and 
picking  off  at  least  one  Mexican  at  every  shot.  His  peculiar 
sang  froid  attracted  the  attention  of  Gen.  Worth ,  who  was, 
doubtless,  much  surprised  to  see  a  man  fighting  in  that  out 
landish  fashion.  The  general  rode  up — "  What  regiment 
do  you  belong  to,  Sir?"  "None,  Sir!  I'm  one  of  the 
Printer's  craft,  from  Bosting!"  The  next  day  Charley  was 
invited  to  Gen.  Worth's  headquarters,  and  there  received 
a  handsome  present,  accompanied  by  the  general's  thanks 
for  his  gallantry. 


"  Wooling"  General  Wool. 

In  honor  of  the  marriage  of  the  daughter  of  the  alclade  of 
Saltillo,  a  dancing  party  was  got  up,  to  which  three  of  the 
Mississippi  volunteers  were  invited,  Saunders,  Bertha,  and 
Pat  O'Rourke.  Application  was  accordingly  made  to  Gen. 
Wool  for  permission  to  go,  but  the  General  not  having  found 
any  thing  about  dancing  in  his  books  on  tactics  and  discipline, 
and  not  deeming  it  a  very  necessary  accomplishment  of  a 
soldier,  promptly  refused  the  request.  Now  here  was  a  di 
lemma.  Our  messmates  were  equally  as  determined  to  see 
some  of  the  fun,  and  enjoy  some  of  the  dancing  with  the  girls 
at  the  party,  as  General  Wool  was  that  they  should  stay  in 
the  camp  that  night.  But  how  to  effect  their  object  wag  a 
matter  of  profound  though  somewhat  vexatious  study/  In 
the  midst  however  of  their  plans  and  schemes,  none  of  which 
promised  to  secure  the  objects  so  dear  to  them,  Pat  was  ta 
ken  suddenly  ill,  and  swore  by  all  the  saints  in  the  calendar 
that  he  must  be  carried  to  the  hospital,  or  he  would  die  en 
tirely  ;  and  immediately  poor  Saunders  and  Bertha,  with 


22  ANECDOTES   AND    INCIDENTS* 

sad  hearts,  rolled  Pat  up,  all  dressed  as  he  was  in  his  best 
apparel,  in  a  blanket,  and  taking  a  corner  in  each  hand,  with 
the  watchword  of  "  a  sick  man  for  the  hospital,"  they  soon 
passed  the  sentry.  When  out  of  hailing  distance,  Pat  ex 
claimed,  "  boys,  let  me  down  aisy,  we've  pulled  wool  over 
ould  Wool's  eyes,  and  now  let's  be  after  the  dance,"  and 
away  they  scampered  to  the  wedding,  where  the  adventure 
was  soon  told,  which  rendered  the  boys,  and  Pat  in  particu 
lar,  the  lions  of  the  evening.  They  returned  to  camp  next 
morning,  reporting  their  sick  comrade  well,  and  the  whole  of 
them  ready  for  duty.  It  is  said,  however,  that  General  Wool, 
having  some  inkling  of  the  trick  that  was  played  off  on  him, 
determined  that,  for  the  future,  when  there  is  any  fun  going 
on  in  town,  there  are  to  be  no  sick  men,  particularly  from 
the  Mississippi  regiment,  taken  to  the  hospital. 


Napoleon's  Veteran. 

The  first  discharges  of  the  Mexican  batteries  upon  the 
opening  of  the  first  engagement  of  Palo  Alto  killed  a  French 
veteran  of  Napoleon.  He  was  serving  as  a  private  in  the 
fifth  regular  infantry,  and  while  bravely  doing  his  duty  as  an 
American  soldier  received  a  cannon  shot  that  carried  off  both 
his  legs.  He  had  witnessed  the  different  phases  of  Napoleon's 
fortunes.  He  had  passed  unhurt  through  the  bloody  con 
flicts  of  Austerlitz  and  Jena,  and  had  borne  a  manly  share 
of  the  horrors  and  privations  of  the  disastrous  Russian  cam 
paign.  He  had  seen  the  proud  nodding  of  the  plumes  of 
the  imperial  guard,  as  they  advanced  to  the  charge  led  by 
the  gallant  and  lamented  Ney,  and,  when  repulsed  by  the 
British  square,  he  viewed  their  broken  ranks  hurrying  to  pro 
tect  the  Emperor,  their  gallant  charge  covering  with  glory 
the  fall  of  the  Empire  at  Waterloo.  He  had  survived  all 
these  and  lived  to  fall  by  a  shot  from  a  Mexican  battery  upon 


ADVENTURE    WITH    A    NUN.  23 

the  field  of  Palo  Alto  !  His  comrades  gathered  around  him, 
and  as  they  saw  his  lamentable  wounds  would  fain  offer  him 
consolation  ;  but  the  brave  fellow,  as  his  eyes  were  waning 
in  death,  waved  his  hand,  and  pointed  to  the  enemy,  ex 
claiming  with  his  last  breath,  "  Go  on,  comrades!  I  have 
only  got  what  a  soldier  enlists  for !" 


An  Adventure  with  a  Nun. 

Two  American  officers,  having  remained  in  the  cathedral 
of  Puebla  after  the  services,  were  accosted  by  a  Mexican 
Nun,  who  had  lingered  behind  the  sisterhood,  with  "You 
are  an  American  ?  "  addressed  particularly  to  one  of  them  ; 
the  officer  bowed.  His  companion  stepped  a  few  paces 
ahead,  and  left  him  to  enjoy  the  singular  and  unexpected 
adventure. 

"Are  you  a  man  of  honor'?  "  began  the  nun. 

"  Such  is  the  natural  trait  of  an  American  soldier,"  replied 
the  officer,  again  bowing. 

"  I  wish  you  to  render  me  an  important  service.  Can  I 
expect  you  to  assist  me  ?  " 

"Anything  in  accordance  with  my  principles  as  a  gentleman 
of  honor,  and  my  duty  as  an  American  soldier,  I  will  willingly 
render  in  your  service." 

"  I  believe  I  may  trust  you."  And,  as  a  pledge  to  his 
sincerity,  she  offered  him  her  hand,  to  which  the  officer 
respectfully  bent  his  lips. 

"  When  the  bell  of  the  convent  tolls  the  hour  of  midnight, 
be  at  the  western  gate — more  anon — adieu  !  " 

At  the  appointed  hour,  the  officer  was  ready  at  the  con 
vent  walls,  together  with  a  few  friends ;  who,  at  his  desire, 
had  accompanied  him,  to  witness  the  upshot  of  what  they 
supposed  to  be  an  innocent  love  adventure.  As  the  hour  of 
twelve  was  tolled,  a  small  wickel  opened,  and  a  figure  in  a 
dark  mantle,  entirely  concealing  the  form,  appeared. 


ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

The  officer  approached,  when  the  figure  saluted  him  in  a 
whisper. — "Accept  my  gratitude!'*  He  immediately  re 
cognized  the  voice  of  the  nun  of  the  morning  service,  and 
did  aot  hesitate  to  obey  her  injunction,  "  Be  silent !  Follow 
me!" 

At  a  quick  pace,  she  threaded  through  the  darkened  paths 
the  officer  following  close  behind  ;  and  presently  opened  a 
small  door  under  a  low  archway,  with  a  key  she  carried  sus 
pended  from  a  ribbon  around  her  neck ;  and,  catching  the 
officer  by  the  hand,  passed  quickly  through  a  dark  passage, 
to  a  small  door  to  which  she  applied  another  key,  when  the 
officer  found  himself  in  a  lady's  chamber,  the  absence  of 
every  thing  but  a  bed  and  chair  giving  sufficient  evidence  of 
its  occupant.  The  nun  turned  the  lock  on  the  door,  placing 
the  key  in  her  pocket,  then  turning  to  the  officer  exclaimed, 
"  There  is  yet  another  and  severer  trial  of  your  courage  and 
honor,  sir  !  Uncover  that  bed  !"  The  officer  obeyed,  when, 
to  his  utter  horror  and  amazement,  he  discerned  the  dead 
body  of  a  monk,  besmeared  with  gore.  She  noticed  the 
sickened  disgust  of  his  countenance,  and,  in  voice  of  rage 
addressed  him,  "  What !  are  you  startled  at  the  sight  of  a 
dead  body !  you,  who  have  slain  hundreds  of  my  country 
men  !  The  favor  you  are  to  do  me  is  to  take  that  body  up 
on  your  shoulders  to  the  outer  walls  of  the  convent!" 

"  Madam  !  I  promised  nothing  that  was  dishonorable.  I 
cannot  obey  you." 

"  Ha  !  she  exclaimed,  in  a  smothered  voice  of  rage,  draw 
ing  at  the  same  lime  a  pistol  from  her  person,  and  levelling  it 
at  the  officer's  head,  **  Refuse,  and  I  have  two  dead  bodies 
in  my  room  !  Nay,  three,  for  this  dagger,  snatching  one  from 
a  table,  shall  be  bathed  in  ray  own  blood,  as  it  has  already 
pierced  the  breast  of  that  miserable  monk  !" 

The  officer  was  irresolute.  But  the  pistol  near  his  head 
quickly  decided  his  questions  of  honor.  He  essayed  to  place 
the  body  on  his  shoulders,  when  the  nun  stopped  him — "One 


DEATH  OF  HENRY  CLAY,  JR.  26 

parting  pledge  !"  filling  at  the  same  time  two  glasses  of  wine 
from  a  flask  that  was  upon  the  table  ;  the  officer  with  a  forced 
bow  quaffed  the  wine,  though  he  noticed  that  the  nun  put 
down  her  glass  untasted.  She  now  assisted  him  with  his 
burden ;  and  directed  him  to  follow  her  through  the  same 
dark  passage.  She  opened  the  outer  wicket,  and  thrust  the 
officer  quickly  through,  closing  it  behind  her,  locking  it  upon 
the  inside. 

The  officer  narrated  his  adventure  to  his  comrades,  when 
it  was  thought  advisable  to  make  immediate  report  to  the 
commanding  general.  They  had  proceeded  but  a  few  paces 
however,  when  the  officer  fell  a  lifeless  corpse  upon  the 
flagged  pavement.  The  nun's  glass  of  wine  had  done*  its 
work. 

A  few  days  after  a  long  procession  of  priests  and  common 
people  followed  the  body  of  a  nun  to  her  grave.  She  had 
died  suddenly  in  her  bed.  So  said  the  priests.  But  suspi 
cion  whispered  that  the  double  murderess  had  added  suicide 
to  her  other  crimes. 


The  Repulse  at  Buena  Vista,  and  fall  of  H.  Clay. 

The  Kentucky,  Illinois  and  Mississippi  regiments  were 
placed  by  order  of  the  General  in  chief  in  front,  while 
O'Brien's  artillery  was  placed  on  the  right,  to  meet  the  charge 
of  the  Mexican  lancers,  who  rode  gallantly  forward  upon  the 
American  ranks,  with  every  appearance  of  a  desperate  effort 
to  gain  the  day.  O'Brien's  battery  was  the  only  one  upon 
the  field.  Sherman's  and  Bragg's  not  having  yet  come  up 
from  the  left  were  they  had  contributed  to  the  repulse  of  the 
enemy.  O'Brien  fought  until  nearly  all  his  men  were  killed, 
then  retiring  abandoned  his  guns  to  the  enemy.  At  this  mo 
ment  the  batteries  of  Sherman  and  Bragg  and  Washington 
appeared  on  the  field,  and  a  destructive  fire  was  opened  from 
all  sides  upon  the  body  of  lancers.  This  action  was  to  de- 
3 


26  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

cide  the  fate  of  the  day,  and  the  efforts  of  both  parties  wer» 
consequently  redoubled. 

At  length  the  Mexicans  began  to  waver,  when  the  Kentuck- 
ians  and  Illinoisians  charged  forward,  driving  the  immense 
masses  of  infantry  and  cavalry  before  them.  The  Illinosians 
passed  around  the  head  of  a  ravine  in  front,  while  the  Ken- 
tuckians  crossed  ils  deep  bed.  As  they  rose  on  the  opposite 
bank  they  formed  and  delivered  several  fires,  when  finding 
themselves  beyond  supporting  distance,  and  being  raked  in 
their  right  flank  by  a  battery,  they  were  unable  to  support 
the  Mexican  columns  which  had  rallied  and  returned,  charg 
ing  on  them  with  fury.  The  Kentuckians  and  Illinoisians 
also,  retired  down  the  banks  of  the  ravine,  where  they  were 
overwhelmed  with  a  shower  of  balls.  Here  fell  Colonel 
John  J.  Hardin  of  the  first  Illinois  volunteers,  Col.  R.  W. 
M'Kee  of  the  Kentucky  regiment,  and  also  the  gallant  Lieut. 
Col.  Henry  Clay,  jr.  the  son  of  the  distinguished  statesman  of 
Ashland.  He  had  graduated  at  West  Point  as  the  second 
in  his  class ;  and,  having  resigned  his  commission,  was  prac 
ticing  law  at  Lexington,  when  the  call  for  volunteers  was 
made.  With  a  patriotic  devotion,  not  unworthy  of  his  sire, 
and  which  has  ever  been  the  distinguishing  trait  of  his  native 
state,  he  enrolled  himself  under  his  country's  banners,  and 
joined  Gen.  Taylor,  having  been  made  Lieut.  Colonel  of  the 
Kentucky  Regiment.  He  was  shot  through  the  legs,  during 
the  last  charge  made  by  the  regiment  to  which  he  belonged, 
He  fell  though  not  mortally  wounded,  in  the  bed  of  a  ravine, 
and  three  of  his  men  were  bearing  him  from  the  field  up  the 
slope  of  the  hill,  when,  being  pressed  by  the  enemy,  the  gen 
erous  Clay  begged  them  to  leave  him  and  save  themselves, 
and  at  the  same  time  handing  to  one  of  them  his  pistols,  said, 
"  Take  these  and  return  them  to  my  father.  Tell  him  I  have 
no  further  use  for  them."  The  men  seeing  that  all  must  be 
lost  unless  they  quickened  their  pace,  dropped  their  charge 
and  fled.  Col.  Clay  was  last  seen  lying  on  his  back,  fighting 


"GEN.  TAYLOR  NEVER  SURRENDERS."        27 

with  his  sword  a  squad  of  Mexicans,  and  was  found  pierced 
with  ten  bayonet  wounds. 


"General  Taylor  never  surrenders!  " 
Upon  the  field  of  Buena  Vista,  the  successful  fire  of  the 
Mississippi  Rifles  and  Third  Indiana,  together  with  the 
brisk  cannonade  of  Capt.  Bragg,  joined  by  the  cavalry  of 
Capt.  May,  enclosed,  almost  in  walls  of  fire,  a  large  party 
of  Mexican  cavalry,  that  had  attempted  to  force  the  brigade 
of  Gen.  Lane.  Santa  Anna  immediately  sent  an  officer  to 
know  what  Gen.  Taylor  wanted.  Gen.  Wool  attempted  to 
carry  an  answer,  hut  was  prevented  by  the  fire  of  the  enemy. 
The  general-in-chief  despatched  Lieut.  Crittenden  to  de 
mand  the  surrender  of  the  body  of  cavalry  detached  from 
the  main  body  of  the  Mexican  army.  The  officer,  pretend 
ing  not  to  understand  the  message,  conveyed  the  lieutenant 
blindfolded  to  the  headquarters  of  Santa  Anna  ;  who  inquired 
of  him  what  Gen.  Taylor  wanted  The  lieutenant  replied, 
"  He  has  sent  me  to  demand  your  immediate  surrender." 
When  this  extraordinary  demand  was  translated  to  the  Mex 
ican,  he  raised  his  hands  and  eyebrows  in  utter  astonishment 
at  the  temerity  and  presumption  of  such  a  message,  and 
replied,  that  he  would  expect  Gen.  Taylor  to  surrender  in 
an  hour,  or  he  would  destroy  all  his  forces.  Lieut.  Critten- 
den's  reply  was,  "General  Taylor  never  surrenders  /*' 

Santa  Anna  effected  his  object  by  this  ruse  de  guerre,  for 
the  suspension  of  firing  enabled  the  body  of  cavalry  to  re 
turn  to  the  Mexican  army. 


Death  of  a  Soldier. 

A  soldier,  by  the  name  of  Victor  Galbraith,  a  bugler  in< 
Captain  Mier's  company  of  volunteer  cavalry,  was  shot  at 
fSaltillo,  for  threatning  his  captain's  life.  The  poor  fellow 


28  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

had,  in  a  moment  of  passion,  or  when  gloating  over  some 
real  or  imaginary  wrong,  given  utterance  to  an  expression 
that  brought  him  before  a  court  martial;  and,  according  to 
the  regulations  of  the  service,  was  condemned  to  be  shot. 
-  The  troops  were  all  mustered  to  witness  the  dreadful  scene. 
The  unhappy  prisoner  was  brought  forward  under  the  charge 
of  the  provost  marshal  and  guard.  Sixteen  men  were 
detailed,  and  formed  in  single  file.  The  prisoner  calmly  sat 
down  on  his  coffin  at  a  few  paces  distance,  and  looked  the 
executioners  firmly  in  the  face.  His  sentence  was  then  read 
to  him  ;  he  threw  his  head  back,  and  said  to  the  men, — 
"  Take  good  aim  :  I  am  ready  to  die  !  "  They  fired  ;  he 
fell  immediately,  having  received  three  balls  in  his  body ; 
but  in  a  few  moments  he  again  arose,  resting  on  his  elbow, 
and  asked  for  water,  and  drank.  He  then  said,  "  Kill  me 
at  once,  and  relieve  me  of  my  misery ; "  when  four  of  the 
men,  who  had  reserved  their  fire,  advanced  ;  and,  placing 
the  muzzles  of  their  guns  to  within  a  few  inches  of  his  body, 
fired,  almost  cutting  him  asunder.  Though  he  had,  doubt 
less,  merited  his  fate,  yet  the  resolution  and  firmness  with 
which  he  faced  death,  excited  tears  of  sympathy,  from  all 
who  witnessed  the  sorrowful  scene,  that  one,  endowed  with 
such  manly  resolution,  had  not  met  a  nobler  death  than  that 
of  a  condemned  criminal. 


The  Man  that  spoke  Mexican. 

Gen  Wool,  the  brave  and  heroic  soldier  of  Buena  Vista, 
is  a  strict  disciplinarian  as  well  as  a  gallant  and  accomplished 
officer.  The  following  "good  'un,"  which  Capt.  Tobin  tells 
us  happened  in  camp,  must  have  excited  the  fiery  little  gen 
eral  to  a  high  degree.  While  sitting  in  his  marquee,  a  Mex 
ican  was  ushered  into  his  presence  whose  demeanor  denoted 
the  importance  of  .some  important  communication  which  he 
wished  to  deliver. 


SCENES    AT    THE    QUARTERMASTER'S.  29 

The  General  could  not  speak  Spanish,  and  his  interpreter 
was  sought  in  vain.  A  long  specimen  of  a  sucker,  who  from 
the  outre  style  of  his  dress,  the  General  took,  perhaps,  for  a 
ranger,  happened  at  that  moment  to  straggle  past. 

"Come  here  my  man,"  called  out  the  General.  With  an 
air  of  perfect  nonchalance,  the  sucker  doffed  his  battered 
castor  and  entered  the  tent. 

"Do  you  speak  Mexican  ?"   inquired  the  General. 

"Why,  General,  I  rather  guess  not." 

"Well,  can  you  tell  me  of  some  one  who  does?" 

"Yes-sir-ee — I  jist  can,"  answered  the  man. 

"Quick,  then,  and  let  me  know  where  he  is,"  demanded 
the  irrascible  commander, 

"Why,  here,"  drawled  the  imperturbable  sucker,  laying 
his  hand  on  the  Mexican  with  whom  it  was  desired  to  com 
municate,  he  can't  speak  any  thing  else" 


Scenes  at  the  Quartermaster's. 

Those  who  wish  to  see  the  effects  of  the  war,  should  visit 
the  Quartermaster's  department  at  New  Orleans.  Early  in 
the  day  numbers  of  returned  soldiers  throng  around  the  en 
trance,  eagerly  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  officers  connected 
with  the  department.  When  the  doors  are  opened,  they  all 
rush  up  to  have  their  accounts  adjudicated.  Here  you  will 
see  a  colonel,  who  has  just  returned  from  Mexico.  His  epau 
lets  are  faded  and  his  countenance  is  bronzed  with  exposure. 
He  has  mounted  the  heights  of  Monterey — served  at  Churub- 
usco,  Chapultepec,  and  like  a  lion,  sprung  through  the  gates 
of  the  city  of  Mexico.  With  his  martial  cloak  thrown  care 
lessly  around  him,  he  does  not  seem  to  think  he  has  done 
any  thing,  but  only  comes  to  get  the  accounts  of  his  regiment 
settled.  He  thinks  of  his  home,  where  his  loved  ones  are. 
It  may  be,  that  for  months  he  has  not  received  a  single  letter 
3* 


30  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

from  his  friends,  and  he  longs  to  meet  them.  After  having 
sought  the  "  bubble  reputation  e'en  in  the  cannon's  mouth," 
he  returns  to  his  homestead — and  who  can  tell  the  greeting 
that  he  will  receive  !  His  friends  will  cling  around  him,  and 
look  upon  him  as  the  oak  that  has  been  scarred,  though  not 
blasted  by  the  lightnings  of  war.  Who  would  not  envy  his 
feelings  when  he  finds  himself  in  the  bosom  of  his  family  ! 
Again,  here  enters  a  stalwarlh  captain,  with  an  air  that  shews 
that  he  is  bravery  itself.  He,  too,  has  been  to  the  wars,  and 
bears  the  marks  of  honorable  wounds.  His  company,  to  him 
have  been  a  family,  and  he  is  as  careful  of  their  wants  as 
though  they  were  his  own  children.  When  he  gets  their  ac 
counts  settled,  and  furnishes  them  with  transportation  to  their 
homes,  scenes  will  take  place  that  none  but  those  who  can 
dive  into  the  depths  of  human  nature  can  imagine.  "  Cap 
tain,"  one  soldier  will  say,  "  I  bid  you  good  bye  !  I'm  going 
to  the  west,  for  I've  got  enough  of  the  war.  When  I  deserved 
it,  sir,  you  treated  me  purty  hard,  as  I  thought  then,  but  I 
do  not  think  so  now,  sir.  God  bless  you,  sir."  Another 
soldier  came  up — may  be  with  too  much  brandy  in  his  brain, 
Captain,  said  he,  "  how  are  you  old  boss  !  Well,  we  got 
through  it  all  didn't  we?  You  would' nt  let  me  have  my 
licker  down  'here  at  Vera  Cruz;  but  now  I'm  discharged, 
and  I'm  going  on  a  regular  bender  !"  Then  again,  a  staid, 
sober  young  man,  with  an  almost  healed  wound  on  his  cheek, 
and  his  arm  in  a  sling  approaches  his  captain.  His  officer 
turning  round  and  seeing  his  face,  grasps  his  hand — "  Wil 
liam,  my  dear  fellow,  you  saved  my  life  at  Molino  del  Rev, 
I  shall  never  forget  when  a  swarthy  Mexican  brought  his  es- 
copeta  to  bear  upon  my  breast,  you  rushed  in  between  us  and 
received  the  ball  in  your  arm.  And  then,  William,  when  I 
was  wounded  by  a  lance,  and  you  were  sabred,  you  crept  up 
to  me,  whilst  the  blood  was  gushing  from  your  cheek,  and 
endeavored  to  take  me  off  the  field.  William,  we  are  both 
going  to  our  homes — perhaps  never  to  meet  again — what  can 


THE    MILITARY    TAILOR.  31 

I  do  for  you  ?"  "  Captain,"  answers  the  young  soldier,  as 
he  wipes  his  eye  with  his  unwounded  hand,  *'  as  you  say,  I 
did  all  I  could  for  you.  When  I  enlisted  I  swore  in  my 
heart  that  I  would  never  desert  you.  When  the  balls  were 
coming  on  in  showers,  I  did'nt  care  for  myself,  but  I  thought 
of  you.  Death  was  nothing,  then,  sir  ;  but  I  thought  of  one 
who  was  far  away.  I  promised  her  when  I  left  my  home  in 
Dayton,  Ohio,  that  I  never  would  desert  the  banner  of  the 
stars  and  stripes.  Captain,  give  me  a  line  to  my  dear  old 
mother,  and  in  it  please  say  that  I  have  done  my  duty." 


The  Military  Tailor. 

The  following  rather  ludicrous  scene  took  place  on  board 
one  of  our  men  of  war,  while  the  army  was  encamped  around 

Vera  Cruz  : — Captain ,  and  a  very  valient  captain  he 

has  proved  himself,  in  many  a  hard  fight — but  the  captain's 

bravery  is  no  part  of  our  story.     Well,  then,  Captain 

was  on  board  one  of  our  men  of  war,  on  a  visit,  while  the 
army  was  encamped  around  Vera  Cruz,  and  having  compli 
mented  the  commander  of  the  craft  on  the  appearance  of  his 
vessel,  he  added — "Captaine,  you  doesh'nt  sheem  to  remem- 
berish  me."  The  commander  replied  that  he  certainly  did 
not  remember  ever  having  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  him 

before.     "Vy,  I  knowsh  you  in —  ven  I  vash  tailorsh, 

and  I  tinksh  you  owesh  me  for  a  coat ;  but  never  mind  dat 
now ;  for  we  are  all  gallant  tailors  and  zoldiers  togeder." 
The  commander  assured  him  that  he  was  mistaken  in  the 
person,  and  begged  to  be  excused,  as  duty  required  his  pres 
ence  elswhere.  The  commander  then  left  the  captain  to  the 
care  of  his  first  lieutenant,  who,  (seeing  the  same,  and  know 
ing  that  there  was  a  party  in  the  ward-room,  than  whom  none 

liked  fun  better,)  invited  Captain below.     As  soon  as 

the  officers  had  talked  and  laughed  awhile,  and  stowed  away 
a  few  slugs  of  brandy,  in  the  soldier's  locker,  they  asked  the 


32  ANECDOTES    AND   INCIDENTS. 

green  horn  how  it  came  he  happened  to  be  captain  oi  the 

company.     Capt. looked  suspiciously  around,  but  his 

entertainers  appeared  too  serious  and  sincere  to  allow  of  his 
supposing  that  they  were  asking  for  amusement,  or  attempting 
to  run  a  rig  on  him.  He,  therefore,  replied,  "Veil,  den,  you 
must  knowsh  dat  I  was  tailorsh,  and  ven  the  volunterish  want 
the  uniforms,  dey  come  to  mine  schtore,  and  1  makes  the 
uniformsh  for  dem.  I  makesh  great  many  uniformsh  for  all 
one  companish,  but  ven  I.  vant  to  get  my  monish,  de  d — d 
volunterish  had  no  monish  at  all  to  pay  me.  Vel,  you  shee, 
dat  vas  bad,  so  I  vent  home  to  mine  vife,  and  I  say  to  mine 

vife,  I  cannot  get  mine  monish  from  de  d d  volunteersh, 

and  mine  vife,  too,  say  dat  was  bad  ;  and  mine  vife  and  I  ve 
vent  to  bed  on  it.  Vel,  after  a  little,  ven  I  was  laying  in  bed 
alongshide  of  mine  vife,  and  shinking  how  I  should  get  mine 
monish,  my  vife  poked  me  in  de  shide  and  say,  'dis  ish  not 
right.'  Veil,  I  did  not  know  vot  vas  not  right,  and  I  ask 
mine  vife,  as  she  lay  in  bed.  Mine  vife  say,  4you  must  get 
de  monish  from  de  d — d  volunteersh,'  (no,  mine  vife  did  not 
say  d — d  ;  mine  vife  doesh  not  swear.)  Veil,  I  say  I  shall 
be  glad  to  get  de  monish  ;  but  if  dey  have  not  got  de  monish, 
how  can  I  get  it  ?  Den  mine  vife  say  to  me,  4You  are  one 
fool ;  you  must  go  to  dem  volunteersh,  and  you  must  tell  dem 
dat  dey  must  make  you  captaine  of  de  companish,  or  you 
vill  put  dem  all  in  de  jail,  and  den  dey  cannot  go  to  de  halls 
of  de  Montezumash ;  and  den  mine  hushband — mine  goot 
hushbund — ven  you  are  captaine,  you  vill  get  de  monish  to 
pay  de  zoldirsh  dare  vages,  and  den  you  can  pay  yourself.' 
I  shumps  up  in  de  ped,  for  I  see  dat  mine  vife  vas  right ;  so 
de  next  day  I  vent  to  de  volunteersh  and  I  tell  dem  vat  mine 
vife  say  ;  and  de  next  day  dey  elect  me  captaine,  and  I  paysh 
mine  self."  The  officers  could  no  longer  restrain  their 
laughter,  but  burst  out  into  one  simultaneous  shout.  The 
Captain  sloped  as  well  as  he  was  able,  and  has  never  ventured 
on  board  a  man  of  war  since. 


DAX.    MURPHY.  33 

Dan  Murphy. 

Shortly  after  the  entrance  of  the  American  army  into  the 
capital  of  Mexico,  there  died  one  of  those  remarkable  men, 
whose  lives  appear  more  like  romance  than  history — Daniel 
Murphy,  a  Texan  Ranger. 

The  following  is  a  brief  sketch  of  his  eventful  life,  as  it 
appeared  in  the  American  Star,  city  of  Mexico. 

After  participating  in  the  capture  of  San  Antonio  de  Bexar, 
when  Cos  surrendered  that  fortress,  and  a  well  appointed 
army,  to  a  handful  of  Texans,  he  joined  the  Georgia  Battalion 
under  Fannin,  near  Victoria,  and  was  with  them  when  they 
surrendered  to  Urrea,  and  was  marched  to  Goliad.  On  the 
morning  of  the  famous  massacre  of  that  noble  band,  and  after 
the  first  discharge  from  the  enemy.  Dan,  with  two  or  three 
others,  succeeded  in  making  his  escape,  and  reaching  the 
Texan  camp.  He  was  again  found  in  the  Texan  camp 
when  Bowles,  the  Cherokee  chief,  had  combined  the  twelve 
tribes  to  exterminate  the  whites  and  drive  them  from  the 
country.  The  result  of  this  campaign  was  the  complete  ex 
pulsion  of  the  Indians  from  the  settlements.  He  next  joined 
the  ill-fated  Santa  Fe  expedition,  and  was  again  made  pris 
oner,  and  again  escaped  to  Texas ;  and  coming  upon  the 
Rio  Grande  frontier,  like  the  lamented  Cameron,  was  the 
terror  of  those  robbers  and  butchers  under  Canales,  &c.,  who 
were  the  annoyance  of  the  scattered  settlers.  When  the 
war  broke  out  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico,  Dan 
came  to  the  Rio  Grande,  and  has  been'present  in  every  fight 
we  have  had  with  the  Mexicans,  from  that  place  to  this. 
His  fights  are  now  over !  Twelve  years  ago,  he  swore  to  be 
revenged  for  the  massacre  of  his  comrades  at  Goliad,  and 
well  has  he  kept  his  o-ah.  He  died  in  the  capital  of  his 
enemies,  with  the  flag  of  his  country  waving  over  their  con 
quered  battlements. 


34  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

Charge  of  Captain  May. 

Gen.  Arista,  after  his  defeat  in  the  two  successive  engage 
ments  of  Palo  Alto,  had  fortified  himself  in  a  much  stronger 
position,  that  of  Resaca  de  la  Palma.  His  troops  were 
placed  in  position  with  consummate  skill.  He  had  selected 
a  point  of  the  road,  upon  each  side  of  which  lay  a  deep 
and  impassable  ravine.  His  front  line  of  infantry  was  posted 
on  the  exposed  side  of  the  ravine,  while  that  opposite  to  the 
American  army  was  lined  with  his  batteries.  The  Mexican 
ranks  were  quickly  driven  over  the  ravine,  but  the  deadly 
fire  of  the  enemy's  batteries  prevented  the  American  force 
from  making  a  further  advance  :  while  the  road  was  rendered 
still  more  impassable  by  a  strong  battery  of  large  fieldpieces, 
placed  directly  in  its  centre,  together  with  flanking  batteries. 
The  infantry  had  stopped  upon,  the  edge  of  the  ravine; 
though  not  idle,  as  they  were  keeping  up  a  brisk  fire  upon 
the  Mexican  lines;  while  Ridgely's  battery  was  engaged 
with  the  enemy's  in  a  sharp  cannonade,  yet  with  no  ulterior 
hopes  of  victory.  The  crisis  had  arrived.  The  sagacity  of 
the  general-in-chief  perceived  that  the  main  battery  of  the 
enemy  must  be  taken.  He  gave  an  order  to  an  aid  by  his 
side,  and  in  a  few  moments,  Captain  May,  of  the  dragoons, 
galloped  towards  him.  "  Sir,"  said  General  Taylor,  "  you 
must  take  that  battery."  "  1  will  do  it ! "  replied  the  gallant 
Captain,  and  returned  to  his  command.  "  Men,  follow  !  " 
And  away  sped  eighty-four  dragoons,  four  abreast,  with 
their  leader  four  yards  in  front ;  raising  a  shout  as  they 
swept  along,  that  rang  above  ihe  din  o'f  battle,  while  their 
horses'  hoofs  seemed  to  shake  the  ground. 

But  May's  moment  had  not  yet  come.  The  gallant 
Ridgely  obstructed  his  onward  progress.  "  I  am  ordered  to 
charge  those  batteries,'7  said  May,  coming  to  a  halt.  Ridgely, 
begrimed  with  powder,  and  laboring  in  the  humblest  offices 
about  his  pieces,  turned  to  his  brother  officer,  and  knowing 
the  dangerous  duty  he  had  to  perform,  said,  "  Wait,  Charley, 


CHARGE    OF    CAPT.    MAY.  35 

till  I  draw  their  fire."  The  next  instant  the  match  descended, 
and  ere  the  sharp  report  of  Ridgely's  batteries  had  fairly 
broken  on  the  air,  the  enemy  replied,  and  the  copper  hail 
came  whizzing  and  crushing  among  the  brave  artillerists. 
Quick  as  thought  Ridgely  limbered  up,  and  deployed  from 
the  road,  his  men  jumped  on  their  pieces  and  cheered  the 
dragoons  as  they  passed.  The  dragoons  were  stripped  of 
every  unnecessary  encumberance,  and  brandished  their 
weapons  with  their  naked  arms,  that  displayed  the  well-filled 
muscle,  glittering  like  the  bright  steel  they  wielded.  May, 
far  in  advance,  seemed  to  be  a  living  messenger  of  death 
that  Ridgely  had  sent  from  his  battery  at  its  last  discharge. 
There  followed  in  his  lead  the  long  dark  line  of  his  squad 
ron  ;  and  as  his  charger  rose  upon  the  enemy's  batteries,  the 
rider  turned  to  wave  on  his  men.  That  instant  the  enemy 
poured  a  destructive  fire  of  grape  and  cannister  from  their 
upper  battery,  bringing  eighteen  horses  and  seven  men  to 
the  ground.  The  Mexicans  were  completely  driven  from 
their  guns,  and  their  fire  silenced.  But,  though  repulsed, 
they  were  not  yet  conquered.  Back  they  rushed  to  their 
guns,  and  commenced  loading  for  another  discharge  upon 
the  gallant  squadron.  May  charged  upon  the  gunners  in 
the  act  of  firing  their  pieces  ;  they  fled,  one  officer  alone 
remaining,  who  vainly  endeavored  to  rally  his  men.  Despair 
ing  of  success,  with  his  own  hand  he  seized  a  match,  when 
May  ordered  him  to  surrender.  Discovering  that  the 
demand  came  from  an  officer,  the  Mexican  touched  his 
breast,  and  said,  "  General  La  Vega  is  a  prisoner." 


Lieut.  Newman. 

At  Churubusco,  Lieut.  Newman,  of  the  "Green  Mountain 
Boys''  lost  his  left  arm,  while  charging  with  his  regimeut  (the 
9th,)  the  ranks  of  the  enemy. 


36  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

It  was  on  this  occasion  that,  a  report  having  reached  Gen. 
Scott  that  the  9th  had  fallen  back,  he  rode  towards  the  pos 
ition  occupied  by  Col.  Ransom's  men — and  meeting  an  Aid 
of  Gen.  Pierce,  eagerly  inquired  if  it  was  so.  "No,  sir,"  re 
plied  the  Aid  ;  "the  9th  has  charged — it  has  not  fallen  back." 
"Then"  exclaimed  the  General,  "the  day  is  oursj" — thereby 
expressing  that  unbonded  confidence  in  the  New  England 
bayonet,  which  is  a  favorite  sentiment  of  the  Hero  of  Lundy'a 
Lane. 


Anecdote  of  Captain  Mason. 

Captain  Mason,  in  reconnoitring  one  of  the  enemy's  works 
near  the  capital,  advanced  to  within  a  short  distance  of  the 
enemy's  batteries,  when  a  Mexican  officer  with  a  small  escort 
rode  towards  him.  Captain  Mason  drew  his  revolver.  The 
Mexican  then  in  Spanish  saluted  "  Good  morning."  The 
captain  responded.  The  Mexican  then  said,  "  You  seem 
to  be  very  curious  :  suppose  you  come  a  little  closer."  "No 
I  thank  you,  sir,  I  can  see  very  well  where  I  am."  "Walk 
inside,  sir ;  we  will  endeavor  to  treat  you  as  well  as  the  ac 
commodations  of  the  camp  will  enable  us."  "  I  am  much 
obliged  to  you,  sir,  for  your  kindness,  but  prefer  partaking  of 
your  hospitalities  on  some  other  occasion  ;  and,  holding  his 
spy  glass  to  his  eye,  he  continued,  "  I  only  want  at  the  pre 
sent  to  see  how  you  are  situated.  I  can  see  two  guns  in  em 
brasure,  one  in  barbet,  and  I  think  you  have  one  in  embra 
sure  a  little  further  to  the  left.  That  gun  I  see  your  men 
loading,  I  do  not  think  you  will  be  able  to  bring  it  bear  on 
me,  as  I  will  keep  you  between  it  and  myself;"  and  moving 
a  little  to  the  right,  he  continued  his  observations.  One  of 

the  escort  then  spoke  in  English,  and  said,  "You  d d 

rascal,  you  know  belter  than  to  come  in  hero.  If  I  was  to 
get  hold  of  you,  I'd  cut  your  d d  throat." 

The  Captain  quietly  finished  his  reconnoisance,  and  offer- 


I 
ATTEMPT    TO    CAPTURE    SANTA    ANNA.  37 

ing  his  salaam  to  the  Mexicans,  wheeled  his  horse  and  rode 
off ;  the  Mexicans  returning  to  their  ranks  much  chagrined 
at  not  being  able  to  decoy  the  daring  officer  into  the  net  they 
had  spread  for  him. 


An  attempt  to  capture  Santa  Anna. 

Late  in  the  evening,  a  secret  expedition  set  out  from  the 
city  of  Puebla,  about  three  hundred  and  fifty  strong,  under 
the  command  of  Brigadier  General  Lane.  The  object  of 
the  night  march  was  known  only  to  the  general ;  yet  the 
officers  and  troops  felt,  having  unlimited  confidence  in  their 
commander,  that  it  was  more  than  worthy  of  the  sacrifice  of 
comfort  they  were  called  upon  to  make,  by  a  night  ride  and 
during  a  cold  rain.  On  leaving  La  Puebla  the  command 
took  the  Vera  Cruz  road  ;  but  after  riding  about  twenty 
miles  it  turned  into  a  track,  but  little  better  than  a  mule  path, 
covered  with  broken  and  jagged  limestone  rock,  that  ren 
dered  the  rapid  travelling  extremely  painful  to  both  horse 
and  rider.  They,  however,  bore  it  admirably ;  and,  at 
about  5  o'clock,  in  the  morning,  the  troops  took  up  their 
quarters  at  a  hacienda,  near  the  village  of  Santa  Clara,  after 
having  accomplished  a  march  of  over  forty  miles. 

At  this  place  the  general  informed  the  officers,  that  his 
immediate  object  now  was  to  capture  Santa  Anna,  who,  he 
had  information,  was  at  Tehuacan,  with  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  men.  In  order  that  the  Mexican  chiefdan  might 
not  obtain  information  of  the  presence  of  his  troops  in  this 
section  of  country,  the  general  ordered  every  Mexican  in 
the  hacienda,  and  every  one  found  on  the  road  during  the 
day,  to  be  arrested  and  kept  close  until  he  left  in  the  even 
ing.  The  order  was  strictly  enforced  5  and  at  about  dusk, 
the  march  for  «Tehuacan,  distant  about  forty  miles,  was  taken 
up,  in  the  full  expectation  that  the  wily  Mexican  would  soon 
be  within  their  grasp. 
4 


38  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

Shortly  after  leaving  the  hacienda,  at  a  part  of  the  road 
where  it  runs  through  a  deep  and  narrow  cut,  and  before  the 
moon  rose,  the  general  and  his  staff,  riding  in  advance, 
came  upon  a  party  of  Mexicans,  armed,  before  either  saw 
the  other,  at  a  distance  of  twenty  feet.  The  Mexicans, 
eight  in  number,  were  instantly  disarmed  ;  but  in  the  rear  of 
them  was  found  a  carriage,  from  which  stepped  a  Mexican, 
with  a  passport  from  Gen.  Smith,  allowing  him  to  travel 
from  Mexico  to  Orazaba  and  back,  with  an  escort  of  eight 
armed  servants.  This  being  discovered,  the  arms  were  of 
course  returned,  and  the  cavalcade  permitted  to  go  on. 

Within  eight  or  ten  miles  of  Tehuacan,  the  guide  received 
information  that  Santa  Anna  was,  without  doubt,  at  that 
place,  and  had  with  him  from  one  hundred  to  two  hundred 
men.  With  renewed  hope  every  man  now  spurred  his 
4  jaded  steed,'  and  on  they  went  quick  enough  until  within 
five  miles  of  the  town,  where  a  halt  of  half  an  hour  was 
made,  and  the  plan  of  attack  and  capture  disclosed  by  the 
general  to  his  officers.  The  party  mounted ;  orders  were 
given  to  observe  the  strictest  silence  during  the  remainder  of 
the  march.  The  order  was  obeyed,  for  every  man  had  an 
intense  anxiety  to  obtain  the  prize  ahead. 

At  early  dawn  the  troops  had  arrived  within  half  a  mile 
of  Tehuacan.  The  town  was  in  sight;  and  the  flitting  to 
and  fro  of  lights,  together  with  the  discharge  of  a  solitary 
gun,  gave  hopes  of  meeting  the  enemy.  As  the  command 
came  to  the  entrance  of  the  town,  the  dragoons  and  rifles 
dashed  to  the  right  and  left,  and  in  a  few  minutes  every  out 
let  was  stopped  ;  the  rangers  galloped  ahead  toward  the 
plaza,  with  their  six-shooters  cocked,  -glancing  an  eye  on 
every  side,  with  the  belief  that  the  enemy  was  on  the  house 
tops.  The  rangers  in  the  plaza,  in  a  moment  squads  were 
galloping  through  the  streets ;  but  no  enemy  was  to  be 
found,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  general  had  the  mortification 
to  learn  that  the  great  object  of  his  search  had  fled  two  hourg 


CAPTAIN    JO.  39 

before  he  had  arrived,  and  had  taken  the  road  to  Oajaca, 
with  an  escort  of  seventy -five  mounted  men.  The  national 
flags  hung  out  from  the  residences  of  foreigners,  and  white 
flags  from  the  houses  of  Mexicans  in  every  part  of  the 
town,  told  that  the  approach  of  the  troops  was  known  in 
advance ;  and  it  was  with  chagrin  that  the  general  learned 
that  the  Mexican,  whose  coach  and  escort  was  stopped 
shortly  after  leaving  the  hacienda,  sent  by  a  short  route 
across  the  mountains  one  of  his  servants  to  communicate  to 
Santa  Anna,  that  American  troops  were  on  the  road,  and,  as 
he  believed,  with  the  intention  of  capturing  him. 

Though  General  Lane's  deportment  throughout  this  ex 
pedition  was  that  of  an  accomplished  officer,  yet,  had  he 
have  held  the  Mexican  with  his  escort  under  arrest  for  a 
few  hours,  without  the  possibility  of  dishonoring  the  passport 
of  an  American  general,  Santa  Anna  would,  most  probably, 
have  been  a  prisoner  of  war.  As  it  was,  the  object  of  the 
expedition  failed ;  and  the  only  solace  the  Americans  had 
for  their  disappointment  was  the  appurtenances  of  Santa 
Anna's  military  wardrobe,  which  he  had  left  in  his  hurry  to 
escape.  A  richly  gold  laced  coat,  worth  about  seven  or 
eight  hundred  dollars,  fell  to  the  lot  of  Col.  Hays.  The 
numerous  other  articles  were  divided  among  the  officers, 
Gen.  Lane  only  reserving  to  himself  an  excellent  field-glass, 
as  a  trophy  of  the  self-styled  "  Napoleon  of  the  West." 


Captain  Jo. 

During  Col.  Doniphan's  march  from  El  Paso  to  Chihua 
hua,  the  black  servants  of  the  different  officers  of  the  regi 
ment  formed  themselves  into  a  company.  There  were 
twelve  of  them,  of  which  number  eleven  were  officers  and 

one   high   private.     Jo.  ,  servant  to  Lieut. ,  was 

elected   Captain.     He  was  the  blackest  of  the  crowd,  and 


40  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

sported  a  large  black  feather,  with  a  small  black  hat ;  also 
a  large  sabre,  with  an  intensely  bright  brass  hilt ;  which 
same  sabre  was  eternally  getting  involved  in  the  intricate 
windings  of  his  bow  legs.  With  Jo  for  captain,  they  were 
a  formidable  body  ;  and  to  hear  them  talk,  they  would  work 
wonders. 

During  the  battle  of  Sacramento,  however,  the  company 
was  not  to  be  seen  ;  but  after  the  action  was  over,  they  were 
espied  breaking  out  from  the  wagons,  and  joining  in  the 
pursuit.  That  evening  one  of  the  officers  attacked  Jo 
about  his  company. 

"  Well,  Jo,  I  hear  your  men  were  hid  behind  the  wagons 
during  the  fight?" 

"  Massa,  I'se  berry  sorry  to  say  it  -am  de  fact.  De  men 
wouldn't  fight.  I  called  on  de  patriotism  ob  de  company. 
I  injoked  dem  by  all  dey  hold  near  and  dear  in  dis  world 
and  de  next.  But  it  was  no  use  ;  de  cowards  would  get  on 
de  wrong  side  ob  de  wagons." 

"  But  what  did  you  do,  Jo,  when  you  found  your  men 
would  not  fight?" 

"  Why,  de  fact  am  dis,  de  fire  kept  gettin'  hotter  and 
hotter,  and  dis  nigga  kept  gettin'  cooler  and  cooler ;  so,  de 
best  thing  I  thought  dis  nigga  could  do,  was  to  get  behind 
de  wagons  his  self!  " 


The  Soldier's  Bible. 

After  the  storming  and  capture  of  Chapultepec,  the  gallant 
9th  infantry,  under  Major  Seymour  (ihe  brave  and  lamented 
Ransom  having  just  before  fallen  on  the  heights  of  Chapulte 
pec,)  found  himself  with  others  at  the  aqueduct,  under  the 
walls  of  the  city.  Here  it  sustained  a  most  deadly  fire  from 
the  enemy's  balls  and  escopetas.  Bomb  shells,  grape,  can 
ister  and  musket  balls  flew  thick  and  fast  around  them,  killing 
and  wounding  a  number  of  his  best  and  bravest  men.  Lieut. 


ANECDOTE  OP  SANTA  ANNA.  41 

Jackson,  company  F,  of  the  9th,  during  the  melee,  received 
an  escopeta  ball  in  his  breast,  which,  glancing  off,  whizzed 
upon  the  ground  for  a  great  distance,  and  must  have  killed 
him  dead  upon  the  spot  but  for  a  fortunate  incident, — he  car 
ried  in  his  vest  pocket  a  small  copy  of  the  bible,  a  precious 
volume,  the  gift  his  sister,  just  before  leaving  his  New  Eng 
land  home.  The  ball  struck  the  book  and  made  a  deep  hole 
in  it,  but  it  proved  as  good  a  breastwork  on  the  occasion  as 
the  cotton  bags  did  at  New  Orleans  to  the  troops  of  General 
Jackson  and  saved  the  life  of  its  owner. 


Anecdote  of  Santa  Anna. 

The  following  is  copied  from  the  Diario,  the  official  paper 
of  the  Mexican  government:  "Curing  the  action  of  the 
20th  inst.,  while  our  troops  were  retiring  from  the  bridge  of 
Churubusco  to  Candelaria.  still  combating  with  the  forces 
that  charged  after  themr  four  dragoons,  and  a  captain 
of  the  enemy  threw  themselves  forward  into  our  column  with 
such  rapidity,  that  they  were  not  observed  till  they  arrived  at 
the  works  of  Candelaria.  They  were  there  first  recognized 
as  enemies,  and  fired  on  by  the  garrison,  by  which  the  four 
dragoons  and  the  captain's  horse,  were  killed.  The  captain, 
on  regaining  his  feet,  was  surrounded  by  some  of  the  Presi 
dent's  aids,  and  other  officers  who  came  with  his  column. 
They  were  about  to  kill  him,  when  the  President  interposed, 
and  ordered  them  only  to  disarm  him.  His  excellency,  after 
taking  a  turn  along  the  embattled  ranks,  returned  to  the  place 
where  they  had  their  prisoner,  when  oee  of  the  officers  said 
to  him,  "  General,  this  man  ought  to  be  shot ;  he  has  himself 
confessed  that  he  came  here  for  the  purpose  of  killing  your 
excellency."  "How  so,  what  says  he  2  inquired  the  Presi 
dent.  "  He  says,"  was  the  reply,  "  that  learning  from  one 
of  the  prisoners  that  your  excellency  was  with  this  column,. 


42  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

he*  with  the  four  soldiers  that  followed  him,  took  the  resolu 
tion  of  reaching  and  slaying  your  excellency  ;  for  if  they  ac 
complished  this  it  would  be  a  most  glorious  act,  and  still  more 
so  if  they  should  perish  in  doing  it."  Admiring  their  daring 
bravery,  the  President  replied  :  "  Now,  less  than  ever,  will 
I  allow  any  harm  to  be  done  him.  He  is  prisoner  of  war ;, 
and  let  him  who  lays  hands-on,  him  beware.  Alas  !  if  I  had 
many  officers  like  him,  Scott  would  not  now  be  so  near  us." 


"  Ten  strike!  Set 'em  up!" 

During  the  battle  of  Monterey  a  detachment  of  volunteers 
were  ordered  forward  to  protect  Bragg's  battery,  while  dra 
goon  horses  could  be  procured  to  supply  the  places  of  those 
shot  down  by  the  enemy.  Marching  hurriedly  out  they  were 
in  some  confusion,  which  was  observed  by  a  party  of  Mexican 
lancers,  who,  supposing  them  to  be  retreating,  instantly  char 
ged  upon  them.  The  officer,  seeing  their  approach,  drew 
up  his  men  in  order  behind  a  chaparral  fence  and  awaited 
their  charge.  On  they  came,  full  tilt,  expecting  to  dislodge 
the  volunteers  by  their  furious  onset ;  but  a't  a  proper  distance 
they  received  a  volley  from  the  volunteers,  which  tumbled 
fifteen  or  twenty  in  the  dusU  Not  relishing  this  unexpected 
reception,  they  turned  and  fled  ;  in  the  mean  time  a  howitzer 
had  been  brought  to  bear  on  them  from  the  battery,  the  first 
shell  of  which  cut  down  ten  of  the  hindmost  of  the  retreating 
lancers.  "  Good  lick!"  shouted  one  of  the  b'hoys,  "  a  ten 
strike,  by  G — d  !  Set  'em  up  /" 

This  anecdote  reminds  us  of  an  old  Texan,  who,  on  the 
afternoon  of  the  23d  September,  got  strayed  away  from  his 
comrades,  by  some  accident,  in  the  streets  of  Monterey,  and 
fell  in  with  a  company  of  the  regular  infantry.  These  he 
half  joined,  fighting  partly  on  "  his  own  account"  while  at 
the  same  time  he  endeavored  to  conform  as  much  as  possible 


"  (JIVE    THEM    H LL."  43 

to  the  discipline  of  his  new  acquaintances.  In  addition  to  a 
heavy  fire  of  grape  from  the  batteries,  there  was  an  incessant 
rattling  of  small  arms  from  the  tops  of  the  neighboring  build 
ings  ;  but  the  worst  customers  our  troops  had  to  contend  with 
were  an  old  man  and  a  boy,  upon  the  nearest  house,  who 
were  loading  and  firing  their  escopetas  as  fast  as  possible,  and 
with  an  accuracy  of  aim  that  killed  or  crippled  at  every  shot. 
The  regulars  had  discharged  their  muskets  at  them  several 
times,  yet  without  effect ;  but  now  came  the  turn  of  the  old 
Texan.  Watching  his  chance,  he  waited  until  the  old  man 
and  the  lad  raised  themselves  above  the  parapet.  No  sooner 
did  he  get  them  in  range  than  he  cracked  .away,  and  with 
such  unerring  aim  that  the  same  ball  pierced  both.  "  Dubs" 
ejaculated  the  old  veteran,  as  the  twain  staggered  and  fell, 
and  as  he  said  it  he  brought  the  breech  of  his  rifle  to  the 
ground  with  a  jerk  that  well  nigh  broke  the  stock.  Those 
who  have  not  yet  forgotten  their  marbles,  will  be  more  than 
half  inclined  to  laugh  at  the  earnestness  of  the  Texan,  in  his 
anxiety  to  count  "  dubs.11 


"  Give  them  H— II!" 
Late  in  the  day  at  Buena  Vista,  during  the  last  charge  of 
the  Mexican  Lancers,  the  Kentucky  regiment,  after  having: 
crossed  a  deep  ravine,  were  nearly  surrounded  by  the  enemy- 
An  officer  was  despatched  to  General  Taylor,  to  know 
whether  they  must  retreat,  as  it  was  almost  impossible  to 
stand  their  ground  against  the  overwhelming  numbers  of  the 

enemy.  In  a  few  moments  the  officer,  Capt. ,  returned. 

"Boys,"  said  he,  "  Old  Rough  says  to  give  them  H — 11 !  " 
It  acted  like  an  electric  shock.  The  regiment  raised  a 
scream  of  joy,  and  rushed  on  to  the  charge,  roaring  in  the 
ears  of  the  *  yellow  bellies,'  "  Hurrah  for  old  Kentuck  !  " 


44  ANECDOTES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

Serenading  vs  Discipline. 

Old  Rough  and  Ready  is  as  much  noted  for  his  contempt 
of  unnecessary  discipline,  as  Gen.  Wool  is  for  his  strong 
observance  of  every  point  of  military  regulations.  An  amu 
sing  incident  illustrative  of  the  prevailing  traits  of  the  separate 
commanders  occured  while  the  army  was  encamped  at  Agua 
Nueva. 

Some  of  the  officers  were  in  the  habit  of  whiling  away 
part  of  the  night  in  a  sort  of  uncouth  serenade  of  a  medley 
of  instruments,  the  best  the  camp  afforded.  One  evening 
they  repaired  to  the  plain  tent  of  Gen.  Taylor,  and  fairly 
"waked  an  echo  of  the  spheres"  with  the  heartiness  of  their 
serenade  to  the  popular  "Rough  and  Ready."  The  old 
general  appeared  before  his  tent,  with  a  broad  smile  upon  his 
features,  and  invited  the  'band'  to  "step  into  his  tent  and  'wet 
their  whistles'  with  some  of  his  Madeira  or  Monongahela  !" 
The  company  were  delighted  with  their  reception,  and,  after 
playing  "  Hail  Columbia"  and  "  Taylor's  march,"  left  the 
hospitable  old  'Rough  and  Ready'  and  proceeded  to  the 
quarters  of  Gen.  Wool,  the  second  in  command.  "They 
played  several  airs  before  there  was  the  least  intimation  that 
ihe  General  was  within  hearing ;  but  they  soon  had  a  taste 
of  his  hospitality,  for  a  Corporal's  guard,  by  command  of 
Gen.  Wool,  marched  them  off  to  the  guard-house,  in  violation 
of  the  571st  rule  of  the  service  against  playing  musical  in 
struments  in  the  camp. 


Ludicrous  Picture  of  General  Pillow. 
The  general's  plan  of  battle,  and  the  disposition  of  his  forces, 
were  most  judicious  and  successful.  He  evinced  on  this, 
as  he  has  done  on  other  occasions,  that  masterly  military  ge 
nius  and  profound  knowledge  of  the  science  of  war,  which 
has  astonished  so  much  the  mere  martinets  of  the  profession- 


LUDICROUS  PICTURE  OF  GEN.  PILLOW.  45' 

His  plan  was  very  similar  to  that  by  which  Napoleon  effected 
the  reduction  of  the  fortress  of  Dim,  and  General  Scott  was 
so  perfectly  well  pleased  with  it  that  he  could  not  interfere 
with  it,  but  left  it  to  the  gallant  projector  to  carry  it  into  glo 
rious  and  successful  execution.  In  this  battle,  with  about 
4500  men,  our  army  engaged  an  enemy  with  a  force  of 
16,000,  occupying  a  position  which  could  only  be  reached 
with  extreme  difficulty  by  infantry,  with  entrenched  works 
commanding  the  approach  to  it  for  a  mile  round  in  every  di 
rection,  with,  as  I  have  before  observed,  twenty-nine  pieces 
of  artillery.  The  victory  was  most  brilliant  and  complete. 
Nothing  could  have  been  better  planned  than  this  battle.  I 
must  relate  an  interesting  and  exciting  incident  that  occurred 
during  the  rage  of  the  battle.  A  Mexican  officer  being  seen 
by  one  of  General  Pillow's  aids  to  leave  the  enemy's  lines, 
and  to  advance  several  yards  nearer  our  position,  the  gene 
ral,  as  soon  as  he  heard  of  the  impudent  rashness  of  the 
Mexican,  put  spurs  to  his  charger,  and  galloped  at  full  speed 
towards  him.  As  soon  as  he  got  near  to  the  Mexican,  the 
general  called  out,  in  Spanish,  "  Saque  su  sabel  para  defen- 
derse — let  the  honor  and  prowess  of  our  respective  countries 
be  determined  by  the  issue  of  this  combat."  Straightway  the 
Mexican  drew  his  sword  with  one  hand  and  balanced  his 
lance  in  the  other,  and  rushed  towards  our  general,  who, 
with  a  revolver  in  one  hand  and  his  sabre  in  the  other, 
waited  the  onset  of  the  Mexican.  The  combat  was  a  long 
and  severe  one.  The  Mexican  was  a  large,  muscular  man, 
and  handled  his  arms  with  great  vigor  and  skill,  but  our  gen 
eral  was  his  superior  in  dexterity  and  coolness.  At  last  the 
Mexican  made  one  terrible  charge  at  our  general  with  his 
lance,  which  the  latter  evaded  with  great  promptitude  and 
activity,  using  his  sword,  he  tossed  the  weapon  of  the  Mexi 
can  high  in  the  air,  and  then  quietly  blew  his  brains  out  with 
his  revolver.  Both  the  American  and  Mexican  armies  wit 
nessed  this  splendid  effort.* 

•Extracted  from  the  famous  Leonidas  Letter,  attributed  to  Gen.  Pillow, 


46  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

Death  of  Major  Ringgold. 

At  the  battle  of  Palo  Alto  fell  Major  Ringgold,  a  valuable 
and  accomplished  officer,  whose  death  has  been  universally 
lamented.  The  flying  artillery,  adapted  by  him  to  the 
American  Army,  has  proved  of  great  utility  in  every  engage 
ment  in  which  it  has  borne  a  part ;  and,  in  fact,  may  be 
termed  the  life  guard  of  our  army.  Upon  the  fields  of  Palo 
Alto  and  Resaca  de  la  Palma  it  proved  of  eminent  service, 
and  saved  the  day  at  Buena  Vista. 

His  death  is  thus  described  by  an  able  writer  in  one  of 
the  eastern  papers. 

Major  Ringgold  having  rode  a  little  to  the  rear  of  the  eight 
een  pounders,  checked  his  horse  in  range  of  the  Mexican 
batteries  whose  fire  at  this  moment  was  concentrated  on  this 
point.  At  the  same  instant,  Lieut.  Col.  Payne,  inspector 
general  of  the  army  and  acting  as  aid  to  Gen.  Taylor,  came 
up  and  got  of  Churchill  permission  to  sight  his  pieces.  This 
he  did,  and  sent  forth  a  thundering  volley,  opening  a  view  of 
the  sky  through  the  Mexican  ranks.  A  cloud  of  smoke 
enveloped  Ringgold  from  their  view,  and  instantly  from  the 
Mexican  guns  several  large  shot  passed  over  Churchill's 
battery,  throwing  up  a  cloud  of  dust  in  the  rear.  In  a  mo 
ment  a  soldier  rushes  forward  towards  Col.  Payne  exclaiming, 
"Colonel,  look  there  !"  He  points  to  where  Ringgold  lay 
bleeding  on  the  neck  of  his  dying  horse.  A  six-pound  shot 
had  first  struck  bis  right  thigh  and  passing  through  his  horse 
cut  his  left  thigh  in  the  same  line  in  which  the  ball  first  struck 
him,  exposing  but  not  breaking  the  bones.  Payne,  Churchill, 
and  several  soldiers  cluster  around  him,  and  to  them,  amid 
the  rattling  hail  of  the  enemy's  artillery,  he  said  ;  "Leave  me  ; 
there  is  work  for  you  yonder.  You  must  drive  the  Mexicans 
before  you  and  save  our  comrades  at  Fort  Brown  !"  Then 
taking  a  chain  from  his  neck,  and  with  it  his  gold  watch,  he 
handed  them  to  Col.  Payne,  saying  ;  "Give  that  to  my 
sister  !"  He  took  out  his  purse  and  handed  that  to  Col. 
Payne  also,  with  the  same  request. 


47 

Gen.  Taylor's  Good  Things. 

If  Gen.  Taylor  did  not  say  the  good  things  that  are  as 
cribed  to  him,  we  must  give  the  gentlemen  who  have  put 
them  in  his  mouth,  credit  for  an  admirable  perception  of  what 
is  becoming  in  the  mouth  of  a  great  commander.  A  collec 
tion  of  his  reputed  sayings  in  times  of  emergency,  would  be 
as  fine  an  '  ana'  as  there  is  in  print  anywhere.  His  abrupt 
close  of  the  conference  with  Ampudia,  for  instance,  when 
treating  for  the  surrender  of  Monterey,  is  as  much  to  the  pur 
pose,  and  as  full  of  meaning  as  anything  in  Wellington's 
despatches — "  Sir,  I  hold  you,  and  your  town,  and  your 
army,  in  the  hollow  of  my  hand,  ami  you  know  it.  The 
conference  is  closed — in  thirty  minutes  you  shall  hear  from 
my  batteries." 

Of  course  Gen.  Taylor  would  not  have  said  this  to  a  gal 
lant  and  respected  enemy.  He  would  have  spoken  in  a  very 
different  vein  to  a  brave  and  gallant  general,  who  had  main 
tained  his  position  as  long  as  it  could  be  maintained,  and  now 
having  satisfied  the  demands  of  honor  and  duty  to  their  full 
extent,  was  ready,  with  the  frankness  of  a  soldier  and  a  gen 
tleman,  to  accept  the  necessity  of  his  position.  But  to 
Ampudia,  neither  brave  nor  gallant,  and  whiffling  over  a 
capitulation  which  he  knew  to  be  inevitable,  the  response 
was  as  fitting  as  it  was  well-timed  and  effective. 

There  was,  on  the  other  hand,  a  delicious  touch  of  humor 
in  the  old  General's  acknowledgement  to  the  *  boys'  who 
laughed  at  him  for  dodging.  In  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  at 
Buena  Vista,  when  the  balls  were  flying  *  considerable,'  Gen. 
Taylor  saw  some  of  the  men  ducking  their  heads  as  the 
missiles  whizzed  by,  and  called  out,  "  No  dodging,  gentlemen, 
soldiers  never  dodge."  But  in  a  few  minutes  a  twenty-four 
pounder  came  humming  so  near  the  old  gentleman's  nose, 
that  he  involuntarily  ducked  his  own  head — whereat  some  of 
the  '  boys'  "  snickered  out."  "  Dodge  the  balls,  gentlemen," 
exclaimed  old  Zach,  as  grave  as  a  mustard  pot ;  u  dodge 
the  balls,  gentlemen,  but  don't  run." 


48  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

In  the  same  style  was  his  quiet  remark  at  Resaca  de  la 
Palma,  where  the  balls  made  lively  music,  too.  One  of  them 
cut  off  a  piece  of  his  coat-tail ;  whereupon  he  dryly  remarked 
to  one  that  was  near  him,  "  These  balls  are  getting  excited." 

But  the  best  thing  he  is  said  to  have  said,  was  also  at 
Buena  Vista.  It  was  not  only  quaint,  but  grand  ;  there 
was  a  sort  of  heroic  largeness  about  it,  in  conception  and 
expression,  than  which,  we  know  of  nothing  that  more  fills 
the  mind's  eye.  It  was  when  the  last,  desperate,  almost 
overwhelming  charge  was  made  on  Capt.  Bragg's  battery. 
The  Captain  saw  the  mighty  cohort  coming,  with  an  anxious 
gaze,  for  there  was  no  infantry  at  hand  to  sustain  him.  Place- 
ing  his  pieces  in  position,  he  hurried  to  the  general,  who  was 
not  far  off,  to  represent  that  his  little  band  would  be  ridden 
over,  and  to  beg  for  a  reinforcements.  "I  have  no  reen- 
forcement  to  give  you,"  answered  the  general,  "  but  Major 
Bliss  and  I  will  support  you." 

"  Major  Bliss  and  I"  accordingly  put  spurs  to  their  horses 
and  took  post  by  the  cannon.  We  all  know  what  the 
result  was. 


A  thrilling  Incident. 

Gloomy  foreboding  pervaded  the  American  squadron  sta 
tioned  off  Vera  Cruz  at  the  time  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista 
was  reported  to  be  in  favor  of  Santa  Anna.  It  was  about 
dusk  when  this  news  so  joyful  to  the  Mexicans,  was  made 
Icnown  within  the  wall  of  Vera  Cruz.  The  firing  of  cannon, 
the  blaze  of  rockets  bursting  in  mid  air,  the  rolling  of  drums, 
the  displaying  of  flags  from  every  prominent  point,  and  the 
loud  huzzas  of  the  population,  struck  dismay  among  the  brave 
tars  composing  our  navy.  These  rejoicings  of  the  Mexicans, 
however,  were  to  perish  by  the  rising  northern  blast,  like  bud 
ding  flowers  which  sometimes  fall  before  they  ripen  to  per 
fection  of  beauty  in  the  early  spring  time.  For,  whilst  the 


THRILLING    SKETCH.  49 

rejoicings  were  progressing,  a  speck  much  whiter  than  the 
crested  wave  appeared  bobbing  up  and  down  in  the  far  dis 
tance.  The  glasses  were  soon  in  requisition,  and  the  little- 
speck  was  magnified  into  a  sail,  above  which  floated  in 
glorious  triumph  the  stars  and  stripes  of  America.  The 
fierce  norther  freshened  every  moment,  and  the  foaming  bil 
lows  succeeded  each  other  in  mad  and  powerful  ar-ray. 

Great  solicitation  was  felt  by  every  one  in  the  squadron  for 
the  safety  of  the  frail  craft  which  bore  aloft  the  flag  of  our 
country.  Now  she  was  seen,  and  then  to  disappear;  pres 
ently  she  arose  "once  more  upon  the  waters,"  and  came 
dashing  proudly  on.  She  soon  became  an  object  of  univer 
sal  attraction.  The  bright  galaxy  of  stars,  shedding  their 
lustre  -from  an  'enormous'  flag  at  her  mast  head,  cast  so 
much  light  upon  the  real  character  of  the  little  skipper  of 
the  seas,  that  the  attention  of  the  Mexicans  was  alarmingly 
attracted.  Sounds  of  rejoicing  within  the  walls  seemed  to 
cease,  and  a  big  gun  was  elevated  at  the  castle  of  San  Juan 
de  Ulua,  to  give  the  stranger  rather  a  warm  reception.  As 
she  came  dashing  through  the  spray,  every  heart  in  the 
squadron  beat  quicker  and  quicker  with  indescribable  emo 
tion  ;  all  was  breathless  attention  and  anxiety ;  it  was,  so  to 
speak,  like  the  calm  which  i?  the  usual  precursor  of  the 
storm. 

The  news  must  be  of  a  cheering  nature,  thought  they  on 
board  our  gallant  navy,  or  such  an  enormous  flag  would  not 
be  unfurled  to  the  gale.  The  launch  came  on  before  the 
breeze,  and  did  not  deviate  from  a  given  point,  inside  the 
vesseh.  To  have  s;one  to  leeward  she  never  could  have 

o 

made  the  vessels.  Her  course  was  straight,  and  when  within 
three  hundred  yards  of  the  fortress  a  cannon  was  fired  there 
from,  and  the  ball  passed  across  her  bow.  It  made  no  dif 
ference  to  the  stout  hearts  on  that  little  craft.  Her  course 
was  steady ;  and,  when  within  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards 
of  the  castle,  immediately  in  front,  another  cannon,  much 
5 


•50  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

larger  than  its  predecessor,  was  fired,  but  it  only  gave  the 
crew  a  good  drenching,  which,  however,  they  had  become 
familiar  with  by  this  time.  So  far  (the  little  craft  escaped, 
and  the  valiant  heroes  at  the  castle  determined  to  sink  her. 
They  fired  another  gun,  but  its  huge  messenger  of  death  fell 
harmless.  It  was  the  parting  gun.  The  launch  soon  hauled 
up  alongside  the  flagship  of  the  navy,  and  gave  the  joyful 
news  that  General  Taylor  had  a  rough  and  ready  fight  with 
Santa  Anna  at  Buena  Vista,  and  had  put  wooden-leg  and 
his  army  to  flight.  What  a  glorious  reaction  immediately 
took  place  !  The  good  news  was  spread  through  the  squad 
ron.  by  means  of  naval  telegraph,  and  every  stripe  of  bunting 
was  flung  to  the  breeze;  every  sailor  manned  the  rigging, 
and  such  hearty  cheering  was  never  heard  before.  It  was 
our  turn  ;  long-toms  were  brought  out,  which  sent  the  news 
of  the  glorious  victory  into  the  very  heart  of  Mexico;-  »>9?;  ; 

That  little  Texas  launch  was  manned  only  by  two  men  and 
a  small  boy,  all  of  whom  hail  from  Texas  The  little  fel 
low  had  the  helm  at  the  time  of  the  firing  from  the  castle* 
and  his  steady  and  devoted  attention  to  the  commands  of  the 
two  men  reflected  the  highest  honor  upon  his  head  and  heart, 


jj-,i 


T/jbe  Lame  Drummer*  t-nm 

Whilst  a  regiment  of  volunteers  were  marching  through 
Camargo,  a  captain,  a  strict  disciplinarian,  observing  that 
one  of  the  drums  did  not  beat,  ordered  a  lieutenant  to  in 
quire  the  reason.  The  fellow,  on  being  interrogated, 
whispered  to  the  lieutenant,  "  I  have  two  ducks  and  a  turkey 
in  my  drum,  and  the  turkey  is  for  the  captain."  This  being 
revealed  to  the  captain,  he  exclaimed,  "Why  didn't  the 
drummer  say  he  was  lame?  1  don't  want  men  to  do  their 

duty  when  they  are  not  able." 

iti 


GUERILLA    FIGHT.  51 

Gapt*  Baylor's  Fight  with  Guerillas. 

The  frequent  depredations  of  numerous  guerilla  parties 
upon  the  wagon  trains  of  the  American  army,  passing 
between  Cerralvo  and  Monterey,  were  of  so  annoying  a 
nature,  that  Col.  Abbott,  commandant  at  the  former  place, 
ordered  Captain  Baylor,  with  a  small  detachment;  to  proceed 
to  several  of  the  ranches  in  the  neighborhood,  and  arrest  all 
who  bore  the  appearance  of  having  participated  in  the  assaults 
upon  the  trains  ;  and  also  to  burn  and  destroy  their  habita 
tions  :  thus  taking  summary  vengeance  upon  those  who 
carried  on  this  barbarous  kind  of  warfare. 

The  captain  accordingly  proceeded,  in  obedience  to  his 
orders,  and  scoured  the  country  for  several  miles  around 
Cerralvo,  taking  some  half-dozen  or  more  prisoners.  When 
about  to  return  to  the  main  road,  the  captain  suddenly  found 
himself  surrounded  by  about  two  hundred  Mexican  guerillas, 
His  own  force  numbered  but  twenty-seven,  all  told;  yet  the 
gallant  captain  determined  upon  giving  the  enemy  battle. 
But  he  did  not  attempt  such  fearful  odds  without  first  con 
sulting  his  men;  who,  to  a  man,  being  all  Texans,  declared 
for  fight.  "Follow  me,  then," — exclaimed  the  heroic  cap 
tain — "  we  must  cut  through  the  enemy,  or  die  in  the 
attempt!  "  The  little  band  sent  up  a  shout,  and  swore  to 
"  stick  to  him  to  the  death !  " 

The  large  body  of  the  enemy  had  now  entirely  surroun 
ded  the  devoted  band ;  yet  every  eye  that  gleamed  in  fiery 
hate  around  them  seemed  but  to  add  another  nerve  to  their 
heroism.  The  Mexicans  threw  their  deadly  lances*  and 
fired  their  escopetas,  which  told  fearfully  upon  the  little 
band  ;  yet  they  were  not  idle,  every  shot  brought  a  Mexican 
in  agony  to  the  dust.  But  soon  they  come  hand  to  hand. 

*  The  Mexican  Lance  is  attached  to  the  saddle  bow  by  means  of  a  lasso, 
which  enables  the  rider  to  regain  his  weapon  aftsr  having  hurled  it  at  the  ene 
my.  The  Mexican  Lancers'  dexterous  use  of  his  lance  has  been  a  source  of 
wonder  and  admiration  to  all  who  have  witnessed  the  evolutions  of  their 
brilliant  squadrons. 


52  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

The  brave  Baylor  was  foremost  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight  ; 
his  sword  dealt  deadly  blows  upon  his  enemies.  But  the 
unequal  conflict  could  not  last  long.  Already  had  half  of 
the  little  band  fallen.  Captain  Baylor,  seeing  that  all  would 
be  lost  unless  an  effort  —  a  tremendous  effort  —  was  made  to 
cut  through  the  enemy's  ranks,  waved  his  sword  to  bid  his 
remaining  comrades  follow,  and  made  a  dash  through  the 
lines.  Terrible  was  the  onslaught!  The  lances  were 
thrust  in  myriads  against  the  breasts  of  the  brave  Texans, 
but  with  their  swords  they  dashed  them  aside,  and  reached 
the  open  field  ;  they  were  no  longer  hemmed  in,  but  only  six 
men  of  the  gallant  twenty-seven  remained  ;  three,  partially 
wounded,  escaped  into  the  chapparal,  and  afterwards  bore 
the  lamentable  news  to  Cerralvo.  They  last  saw  the  brave 
Baylor  with  two  of  his  men  uhorsed,  though  still  with  sword 
in  hand  manfully  combatting  the  enemy. 


Swappin"  Bosses. 

General  Taylor's  marque  at  Victoria  was  about  a  mile 
above  that  of  General  Patterson's,  and  between  the  two  the 
Tennessee  cavalry  was  encamped.  General  Taylor  was 
riding  from  his  quarters  lo  Gen.  Patterson's  one  day,  upon 
a  beautiful  Mexican  pony,  and  on  his  route  passed  close  to 
a  Tennessee  trooper,  who  was  rubbing  down  his  horse. 
Totally  ignorant  of  the  rank  of  the  plainly  dressed  old  man, 
and  struck  by  the  beauty  of  his  animal,  he  accosted  him  with 

"  Look   here,  stranger,  would'nt  you  like  to  swap  that   ar 
•4tjj-ii  oHii    tfonti    v-  imi*    nbflvfo 

pony  ?  " 

nJ5'jlfcjf£    >     ',  i'^J-~n,'    !  '':r)    {$.1)1  JfHI.  '•"''  V9IU   '  '  /"      I  t*/T/r 

-No,  friend,"  quietly  responded  the  general,  "he  is  a 
favorite  nag  of  mine,  and  I  do  not  desire  to  part  with  him." 

A  comrade  of  the  trooper's,  recognizing  the  general,  said 
to  him  in  an  under  tone,  "Bill,  you  d  -  -d  fool,  don't  you 

know  who  vou're  a  talkin'  to?     That's  Gineral  Taylor!*' 

-  j    .,,1, 


BOMBARDMENT    OF    FORT    BROWN.  53 

Now,  Bill,  regarding  General  'Old  Rough  and  Ready'  as 
the  greatest  man  on  the  face  of  the  smiling  earth,  was  terri 
fied  at  finding  that  he  had  put  his  foot  in  it,  and  stammered 
out — "  G-g-gineral,  I-I-I  didn't  know  it  was  you — I  beg 
p-p-pardon,  gineral."  The  old  commander  kindly  offered 
his  hand  to  the  trooper  to  relieve  him  from  his  embarrass 
ment,  inquired  his  name  and  residence,  complimented  the 
Tennesseeans,  telling  him  he  found  them  the  bravest  of  the 
brave,  and  rode  quietly  on. 


Bombardment  of  Fort  Brown. 

At  noon,  on  the  2Sth  of  March,  1846-,  Gen.  Taylor  en 
camped  opposite  the  city  of  Matamoras,  and  gave  orders  for 
the  commencement  of  the  fortifications  which  were  subse 
quently  called  "  Fort  Brown." 

Shortly  after,  Gen.  Taylor  left  the  fort  for  Point  Isabel,  to 
prepare  himself  for  battle,  as  well  as  to  secure  that  positioc. 
The  Mexicans,  feeling  that  ths  small  body  left  in  the  foft 
would'  be  unable  to  resist  them,  commenced  a  bombardment 
on  Sunday  morning,  May  3,  from  a  seven  gun  battery  sta 
tioned  at  the  outskirts  of  Matamoras.  The  fire  was  answered 
with  effect  by  Major  Brown,  and  in  less  than  twenty  minutes 
time  one  of  the  Mexican  guns  was  blown  twenty  feet  into  the 
air,  accompanied  by  torn  and  bleeding  bodies.  This  had  the 
effect  of  silencing  the  battery.  The  cannonading  was  re 
sumed  with  few  intermissions  till  midnight.  During  the  day 
the  Americans  had  one  man  killed,  (Sergeant  Weigart)  and 
an  artillery  soldier  wounded.  The  Mexicans  took  to  them 
selves  great  glory  for  this  day's  achievement.  An  official 
despatch  was  forwarded  to  the  Mexican  government,  setting 
the  loss  of  the  Americans  at  fifty-six,  and  their  own  at  one 
Sergeant  and'  two  artillery-men*  The  firing  on  the  fort  was 
heard  by  Geiii.  Taylor  at  Point  Isabel,  and  he  immediately 


54  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

despacthed  Captains  May  and  Walker  to  ascertain  the  con 
dition  of  Major  Brown  ;  they  returned  with  intelligence  that 
he  could  resist  any  force  that  might  be  brought  to  bear 
against  it. 

The  firing  continued,  with  but  casual  intermissions,  until 
about  6  o'clock  on  Wednesday.  Major  Brown  ordered  the 
signal  guns  to  be  fired,  as  agreed  upon  between  himself  and 
the  general-in-chief.  The  firing  recommenced  and  continued 
until  ten  o'clock  A..  M.  just  before  which  time  the  gallant 
Major  Brown  received  a  mortal  wound  from  a  falling  shell, 
which  took  off  one  of  his  legs,  and  otherwise  mangled  him 
in  a  shocking  manner.  He  was  taken  to  the  hospital  and  his 
leg  amputated  above  the  knee.  He  lingered  until  Saturday 
the  9th,  when  he  died,  lamented  by  the  army  and  the  whole 
country.  The  command  then  devolved  on  Captain  Hawkins. 
About  this  time  parties  of  infantry  and  mounted  men  appeared 
in  the  rear  of  the  fort,  but  a  few  rounds  from  Capt.  Bragg's 
battery  sent  them  back  in  hot  haste.  For  several  hours  that 
brave  and  devoted  band  received  a  continual  shower  of  shot 
and  shells,  which,  for  want  ,of  ammunition,  they  dared  not 
return.  At  half  past  four  o'clock  a  parley  was  sounded,  and 
Gen.  Arista  sent  a  summons  to  the  commander  of  the  fort  to 
surrender  "  for  the  sake  of  humanity,"  offering  him  one  hour 
to  return  an  answer,  and  threatening  to  put  the  garrison  to  the 
sword  in  case  his  demand  was  not  complied  with.  This  was 
a  trying  emergency.  The  garrison  scarcely  numbered  three 
thousand  men ;  their  enemy  several  thousands !  Captain 
Hawkins  called  a  council  of  war,  comppsed  of  the  several 
company  commanders  in  the  fort,  and  laid  the  subject  before 
them.  They  had  neither  time  nor  disposition  to  deliberate, 
"Defend  the  Fort  to  the  Death!"  broke  forth  almost  simul 
taneously  from  the  lips  of  that  devoted  band.  The  firing  was 
renewed' and  continued  until  sun-set. 

The  tremendous  fire  of  the  enemy's  batteries,  continued 
throughout  the  entire  day,  and  frequently  part  of  the  night, 
seemed  to  intimate  to  the  besieged  that  there  was  but  little 


ROMBARDMENT  OF  FORT  BROWN.          55 

hope  for  them.  The  brave  defenders  of  the  fort  became  ex 
hausted,  and  began  to  be  indifferent  of  life ;  when,  during 
one  of  the  intermissions,  at  about  half  past  two,  a  heavy  can 
nonading  was  heard  in  the  direction  of  Point  Isabel,  which 
revived  the  drooping  spirits  of  that  heroic  band.  It  was  the 
firing  where  Gen.  Taylor  was  engaged  with  the  Mexicans  at 
Palo  Alto.  The  Americans  welcomed  the  sound  with  a 
tremendous  shout.  They  knew  that  for  Taylor  to  fight  was 
to  conquer.  The  enemy  recommenced  their  bombardment 
with  redoubled  energy ;  but  the  continuous  and  exulting 
shouts  of  the  Americans  finally  silenced  the  bombardment. 
At  sun-set,  a  Mexican  deserter  brought  the  news  of  the  victory 
of  Palo  Alto ;  and  the  wearied  garrison  felt  that  their  labor& 
and  dangers  were  nearly  closed. 

On  Saturday  the  9th  of  May,  the  7th  and  last  day  of  the 
bombardment,  at  about  ten  o'clock,  a  heavy  discharge  of 
shells,  canister,  and  round  shot  was  received  from  the  Mex 
ican  batteries,  which  continued  to  pour  out  shells  until  about 
half  past  two,  when  a  rather  severe  connoaading  was  heard 
in  nearly  the  same  direction  as  that  of  the  preceding  day.  It 
was  the  guns  of  Resaca  de  la  Palma.  The  defenders  of  the 
fort  again  raised  such  shouts  as  seemed  to  paralyze  the 
Mexican  batteries,  for  they  ceased  their  action  until  about 
6  o'clock,  when  they  fired  their  last  shots  and  joined  the 
retreating  cavalry  and  infantry  that  were  escaping  from  the 
disastrous  field  of  Resaca  de  la  Palma. 

The  defence  of  the  "Alamo,"  and  that  of  Craghan  at 
"  Fort  Erie,"  afford,  perhaps,  the  only  parallel  to  this  glo 
rious  defence.  And  they  stand  upon  the  pages  of  history 
as  memorable  instances  of  what  may  be  accomplished  by 
the  determined  bravery  of  a  few,  against  an  opposing  force 
greatly  superior  in  numbers.  How  different  might  have 
been  the  result,  if  the  ten  thousand  troops  within  the 
walls  of  Monterey  had  been  actuated  by  one  jot  of  the  in 
domitable  spirit  of  the  heroes  of  the  Alamo,  Fort  Erie,  or 
Fort  Brown ! 


56  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

An  American  Matron* 

When  the  afflicting  intelligence  was  conveyed  to  the 
mother  of  Lieut.  B of  his  death,  (on  the  9th  of  Sep 
tember,  in  the  battle  of  Molino  del  Rey,)  not  a  tear  fell  from 
her  eyes,  not  a  sigh  escaped  from  her  breast — "  Is  he  dead  ? 
Did  he  do  his  duty?  Thank  God,  he  left  no  widow !" 
were  the  only  words  she  uttered.  What  a  sublime  illustra 
tion  of  a  woman's  heart  was  this — "Thank  God,  he  left  no 
Widow!"  How  perfectly  free  from  selfishness  the  thought 
that  prompted  the  expression !  Even  when  she  felt  that 
the  ties  of  love  were  severed,  and  knew  that  her  life  was 
rendered  a  barren  winter,  instead  of  the  joyous  summer  h 
had  been  before,  warmed  by  the  sunny  smiles  of  her  darling 
boy,  yet  a  generous  feeling  for  her  sex  drove  every  thought 
of  selfishness  from  her  breast,  and  she  was  thankful  that  no 
widow's  or  orphan's  wail  would  mourn  a  husband  or  a 
father,  and  that  a  mother  alone  was  left  to  sorrow  over  his 
loss  !  "Did  he  do  his  duty?"  Patriotism  was  paramount 
to  affection — Love  of  country,  and  anxiety  for  her  child's 
honor,  stood  proudly  forth  before  the  throbbings  of  a 
breaking  heart ! 


Anecdote  of  Gen.  Urrea. 

Four  or  five  privates  of  the  2nd*  Ohio  regiment  were 
taken  prisoners  by  General  Urrea,  having  straggled  from  the 
main  body  of  a  train  guard  passing  from  Cerralvo  to  Mon- 
tery.  They  were  afterwards  marched  to  San  Luis  Potosi,, 
and  treated  with  considerable  rigor.  On  their  being  brought 
before  him,  General  Urrea  expressed  himself  as  follows :. 
"  The  Americans  are  mumal,  (very  bad,) — that  no  more  than 
200  or  300  of  them  (alluding  to  Col.  Morgan's  command,. 
on  the  20th  of  Feb.);  fought  1500  of  his  men — that  they 
stood  up  in  an  open  plain,  and  received  his  fire  for  half  a. 


ANECDOTE  OF  CAPTAIN  COFFY.  57 

day,  and  had  the  impudence  to  wave  their  caps  and  yell  like 
wild  Camanches,  and  bid  defiance  to  the  whole  Mexican 
world !  " 

This  anecdote  was  related  by  Dr.  Bullock,  an  American 
resident  at  Cadaretta.  General  Urrea  also  told  the  doctor 
that  "  he  did  not  believe  these  voluntaries  fought  for  love  of 
country,  but  for  mere  love  of  fighting.  And  that  he  believed 
they  would  as  lief  shoot  a  Mexican  as  some  wild  animal ; 
and  he  considerad  these  soldados  Americanos  no  bueno — 
mucho  diaboCo  !  " 


Anecdote  of  Captain  Coffy. 

The  2nd  Illinois  Regiment  received,  with  the  2nd  Indiana, 
the  first  and  heaviest  fire  of  the  enemy  on  the  morning  of 
the  23d,  on  the  field  of  Buena  Vista.  The  2nd  Indiana 
retreated  in  disorder,  and  left  the  2nd  Illinois  with  two  pieces 
of  light  artillery,  commanded  by  Lieut.  French,  who  was  shot 
down  by  his  gun,  the  only  force  at  this  critical  moment  to 
resist  the  advancing  line  of  the  enemy,  more  than  ten  times 
their  number. 

At  this  time,  Captain  CofFy,  who  commanded  a  company 
in  the  Illinois  Regiment,  received  a  severe  wound  in  the  left 
arm,  fracturing  it ;  the  lieutenant  colonel  was  standing  near, 
the  gallant  captain  came  up  to  him  and  said — "  Colonel,  I 
am  wounded,  but  must  stick  to  my  company."  In  a  few 
minutes  he  returned  to  the  same  officer,  and  exclaimed — 
"  Colonel,  they've  shot  me  again."  He  had  then  received 
a  ball  in  his  left  shoulder.  "  I  am  sorry  for  you — stay  with 
your  company  as  long  as  possible,"  was  the  reply  to  him. 
Captain  C.  returned  to  his  company,  and  in  a  few  moments 
an  18-pound  shot  struck  the  ground  a  few  feet  before  him, 
ricochetting  over  his  head,  and  covering  him  \yith  sand  and 
gravel,  and  stinging  him  severely  with  the  pebbles  thrown 


58  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

into  his  face.  Faint  with  the  loss  of  blood  from  his  two 
wounds,  and  under  the  impression  that  the  explosion  of  a 
shell  had  severely  wounded  ,him,  he  returned  a  third  time  to 
the  same  officer,  exclaiming — "  Colonel,  I  am  now  torn  to 
pieces,  and  must  get  away  if  I  can,  but  never  yielp!  the  day 
to  them."  And  yet  he  was  neither  a  Mississippian  or  a 
Kentuckian,  but  a  plain,  straight-forward  Illinois  man,  that 
required  to  be  shot  twice  and  torn  to  pieces  once  before  he 
gave  up. 


Storming  of  Chapultepcc. 

On  the  evening  of  the  12th,  about  5  o'clock,  General  Pil 
low  came  to  our  regiment,  15th  infantry,  saying  that  this 
post,  Chapultepec,  must  fall  by  the  next  morning,  and  that 
we  could  not  advance  without  its  possession,  and  that  he  had 
the  selecting  of  a  storming  party,  from  the  different  regiments, 
men  who  would  be  daring  enough  to  engage  in  this  arduous 
undertaking,  and  who  would  either  seal  their  devotion  to  their 
country  with  their  hearts'  blood,  or  gain  immortal  laurels.  He 
called  upon  those  who  were  willing  to  join  this  dangerous 
expedition  to  step  forward ;  and  how  many  do  you  think 
there  were  ready  ?  Only  one  man,  and  he  was  our  leader, 
and  he  offered  his  whole  regiment,  man  for  man  ;  not  a  single 
man  would  stand  back,  although  the  castle  lay  before  us,  on 
an  almost  perpendicular  rock,  and  bade  defiance  all  day  to 
our  artillery,  shewing  us  seventeen  open-mouthed  cannon, 
and  thousands  of  Mexicans  crouched  on  its  bastions.  Never 
theless,  every  one  of  the  boys  wanted  to  be  of  the  party,  and 
with  impatience  they  begged  of  the  general  to  go  at  the  work 
that  same  night.  This  was  a  great  moment.  A  tear  stole 
down  the  cheek  of  General  Pillow,  expressive  of  the  feelings 
which  took  possession  of  his  breast.  With  but  few  heartfelt 
words,  he  thanked  us  for  our  readiness,  and  called  us,  as  he 


STORMING    OF    CHAPULTEPEC.  -59 

has  done  ever  since,  his  "  gallant  15th."  The  attack  could 
not,  however,  take  place  that  evening,  but  we  moved  silently 
into  the  great  corn  magazine,  immediately  at  the  foot  of  the 
rock,  to  be  ready  for  the  work  at  break  of  day.  Pillow  him 
self  took  quarters  in  our  midst. 

##***#• 

We   advanced,  after  three   or  four  more  shots  from  the 
enemy,  so*  far  that  the  walls  of  the  castle  protected  us  com 
pletely,  while  the   Mexicans  blazed  away  with  their  small 
arms  over  our  heads.     Now  the  call  was  made  for  ladders, 
a  few  of  which  made  their  appearance ;    but  several  times 
the  carriers  were  either  killed  or  wounded,  and  the  ladders 
tumbled  half  way  down  the  hill  again.     On  a  sudden  the 
fire  of  our  battery  ceased,  and  a  lieutenant  of  the  New  York 
Rifle  Regiment,  with  a  flag  in  hand,  attempted  to  mount  a 
ladder,  when  the  heads  of  a  dozen  Mexican  rascals  popped 
over   the  walls,    and   fired  their  muskets — and    the   gallant 
lieutenant  was  wounded  in  the  head  ;   haply,  however,  not 
mortally.     This  was  the  grand  finale,  and  the  retreating  of 
the  enemy  commenced  in  right  good  earnest.  But,  oh,  God  ! 
the   one   ladder,  which    was   near  where  I  stood,  was  not 
enough,  nor  were  the  six  or  eight  more  which  were  soon 
procured.     Despairing  of  our  chance  to  be  the  first  upon 
the  walls  of  the  castle,  we  commenced  lifting  each  other  up, 
by  climbing  on  one  another's  shoulders,  and  soon  the  walls 
were  crowded    with   Uncle   Sam's   boys.       Onward,    over 
death,    we  wended  our  way  to  the  interior   of   the   castle, 
which   the   Mexicans   defended   step   by  step,  while  in  the 
rear  of  a  platform   they  once  more  posted  themselves  and 
continued   the   fight.     Soon,    however,  they  began  to  give 
way,  and  hundreds  took  to  their  heels  towards  the  city ;  our 
men  followed  quickly  from  building  to  building,  and  in  less 
than  three  quarters  of  an  hour  from  the  time  of  the  com 
mencement  of  the  attack,  the  banner  of  the  free  waved  in 
triumph  from  the  main  turret  of  the  castle.     The  colors  of 


60  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

three  regiments  were  nearly  at  the  same  time  on  the  spot  ; 
but^the  colors  of  the  New  York  regiment  were  first  unfurled. 
With  tears  in  his  eyes,  General  Scott  expressed  his 
thanks  to  us.  "  Had  I  millions  of  thanks  to  give  you,  it 
would  not  be  enough.  Oh,  that  I  had  a  thousand  arms  to 
press  you  to  my  bosom  !  "  were  some  of  his  words,  while 
he  embraced  the  officers,  and  shook  hands  with  such  of  the 
others  as  were  within  his  reach.  —  Letter  from  an  officer. 


Th'O   TV.'O   S 


.          .  ,.-  >         .  ,  , 

Lessons  at  "  Single  Stick."  . 

Two  of  Lieut.  Burford's  men  had  been  engaged  in  settling 
a  little  difference  by  the  approved  method  of  knocking  one 
another  down  and  pummelling  each  other's  faces  ;  and  so 
hard  did  the  blows  resound  on  the  empty  pates  of  the  dra 
goons  as  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  commander.  He  im 
mediately  hastened  to  the  spot,  when  the  combattants  desis 
ted  and  were  about  separating,  but  the  lieutenant  stopped 
them,  and  ascertaining  the  cause  of  the  quarrel,  informed 
them  he  was  willing  to  gratify  their  desire  to  thrash  each 
other,  but  that  it  must  be  done  in  a  better  and  fairer  manner. 
He  accordingly  despatched  the  sergeant  of  the  guard  for  three 
good  stout  sticks,  and  upon  their  being  brought,  he  gave  one 
to  each  of  the  men,  and  the  third  to  the  sergeant,  and  placed 
the  two  men  within  fair  striking  distance.  "  Now,"  said  the 
lieutenant,  "  Smith,  you  are  number  one,  and  you,  Jones  are 
number  two.  When  I  say  number  one,  Smith  will  strike 
Jones,  and  when  I  call  out  number  two,  Jones  will  strike 
Smith,  Now,  then,  make  ready.  Number  one."  Whack  ! 
came  the  stick  of  Smith  upon  the  shoulders  of  Jones.  "  Num 
ber  two."  Crack  !  came  down  number  two's  stick  on  num 
ber  one's  head,  and  as  "  one,  two,"  —  "  one,  two,"  were 
called  in  rapid  succession,  the  dust  flew  out  of  the  combat- 
tant's  jackets  in  fine  style.  At  length  number  one  began  to 


BATTLE    OF   HUAMANTLA.  61 

think  that  what  was  fun  for  the  company,  who  were  all  gig 
gling  or  grimly  smiling  or  watching  the  curious  combat,  and 
for  the  lieutenant,  who  conducted  the  exhibition  with  a  face 
as  stern  and  unmoved  as  a  marble  monument,  was  all  but 
death  for  him,  and  raising  his  stick  as  number  two  was  coming 
down  upon  him  like  "  ten  hundred  bricks,"  he  warded  oft 
the  blow.  "Stop!"  cried  the  lieutenant  sternly.  "How 
dare  you  guard  off  his  blow,  Smith?  Such  a  proceeding 
cannot  be  tolerated,  and  you  must  receive  a  double  blow. 
Hit  him  again,  number  two."  The  order  was  obeyed. 
"  If  the  lieutenant  please,"  murmured  the  discomfitted 

Smith,  as  he  winced  under  the  flagellation  of  number  two'  "  I 

don't  think  that's  fair,  sir." 

"  No  matter  what  you  think,"  replied  his  superior,  "  I 

think  it  is,  and  that  is  all-sufficient.  Make  ready  ;  number — " 

"  If  the  lieutenant  please,"  hastily  interposed  number  one, 

"I'm  perfectly  satisfied." 

"  Oh,  you  are ;   and  what  are  your  views  on  the  same 

subject,  Mr.  Jones?"  blandly  enquired  the  officer. 

"  The  same,  sir,  if  the  lieutenant  please,"  said  number 

two,  rubbing  his  shoulders. 

"  Very  well,  then,  you  can  go  ;  but  let  me  hear  of  no 

more  quarrelling  or  fighting  in  the  company  for  the  next  six 

months.      The  scene  was  so  perfectly  ridiculous,  and  the 

poor  fellows  were  so  thoroughly  laughed  at  by  their  comrades, 

they  soon  shook  hands  and  became  friends. 


Battle  of  Huamantla  and  death  of  Captain  Walker. 
On  the  evening  of  October  8,  the  train  halted  at  a  hacien 
da  two  and  a  half  leagues  from  Nopaluca.  Geneal  Lane 
sent  out  a  spy  to  the  town  of  Huamantla  that  night,  having 
received  information  that  Santa  Anna  had  gone  thither  during 
the  day  before.  The  next,  morning  he  returned,  and  reported 
6 


62  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

that  the  cavalry  of  the  enemy  had  left  the  town,  leaving  be 
hind  six  pieces  of  artillery.  Orders  were  immediately  issued 
for  the  cavalry  under  Captain  Walker,  Col.  Gorman's  regi 
ment,  Major  Lally's  battalion,  Colonel  Wynkoop's  regiment, 
Captain  Taylor's  battery,  and  Captain  Heitzelman's  battalion 
to  be  in  readiness  to  march  for  the  town,  leaving  the  train  with 
about  eleven  hundred  men  and  two  pieces  of  artillery,  under 
the  command  of  Colonel  Brough. 

At  eleven  o'clock  the  whole  moved  off  in  fine  style.  The 
cavalry  were  ordered  to  keep  some  distance  in  advance.  They 
had  gone  about  two  miles  when  Captain  Walker  determined 
to  push  on  at  a  gallop  and  surprise  the  enemy.  For  five  miles 
the  cavalry  moved  at  a  very  rapid  pace  until  they  reached  the 
outskirts  of  the  town,  when  Captain  Walker  gave  the  orders 
to  form  fours  and  close  up.  He  then  entered  a  very  narrow 
lane,  both  sides  of  which  were  lined  with  thick  maguey,  so 
narrow  in  many  places  that  the  sets  of  fours  had  to  be  broken 
and  the  column  moved  by  twos.  On  they  went  at  a  trot, 
until  the  lane  opened  into  the  main  street  leading  into  the 
plaza,  when,  in  column  of  four,  the  order  was  given  to  draw 
sabres  and  charge.  Then  rose  a  wild  yell  and  such  a  charge  ! 
The  flashing  of  the  sabres,  the  thundering- of  the  horses'  feet 
over  the  paved  streets,  were  enough  to  strike  terror  into  the 
hearts  of  the  enemy.  Two  of  their  cannon  were  pointed  up 
the  street,  another  pointed  down  a  cross  street  and  the  fuse 
was  burning  in  it.  The  terrified  artillerymen  moved  merely 
to  the  sides  of  the  houses,  at  whom  our  men  made  their  thrusts 
and  right  and  left  cuts,  killing  many  in  this  manner.  The 
cavalry  rushed  over  their  cannon ;  the  lancers,  about  three 
or  four  hundred,  fled,  and  the  men  separated  into  small  par 
ties,  pursuing  them  beyond  the  town,  on  the  outskirts  of  which 
a  good  many  were  killed.  Captain  WTalker  went  beyond 
the  town  for  the  purpose  of  overtaking  the  artillery  which  had 
left  the  place.  Captain  Lewis  went  in  another  direction  for 
the  same  purpose.  Captain  Besan^on  was  ordered  to  follow 


DEATH  OF  CAPT.  WALKER.  63 

the  road  to  see  if  the  artillery  could  be  overtaken.     In  the 
meantime,  most  of  the  men  having  gone  in  pursuit,  Captain 
Loyall  with  a  few  men,  assisted  by  Adjutant  Claiborne,  se 
cured  some  fifty  or  sixty  prisoners  at  their  quarters,  together 
with  their  arms,  &c.     Lieut.  Claiborne  then  proceeded  to  se 
cure  and  bring  up  to  the  Plaza  the  cannon,  (three  pieces,) 
that  had  b^en   captured.     Captain   Walker  returned  about 
this  time,  and  going  to  the  Plaza,  was  collecting  the  men. 
Lieut.  Anderson  of  the  Georgia  volunteers,  pursued  and  cap 
tured   Major  Iturbide  and  Colonel  La  Vega,   (a  brother  of 
the  General,)  and  a  lieutenant;  these  he  delivered  to  Cap 
tain   Walker.      Lieutenant  Claiborne,  assisted   by  Corporal 
Hescock  and  private  Myers,  and  one  or  two  others,  limbered 
up  the  six  pounder  and  brought  it  to  the  Plaza ;  leaving  it 
limbered  up  and  the  mules  standing  in  it,  and  returning  to 
get  the  four-pounder,  the  lieutenant  was  in  th'e  act  of  bring 
ing  it  up  when  he  was  forced  to  leave  it  by  the  appearance 
of  all  Santa  Anna's  cavalry,  two  thousand  five  hundred  strong. 
Corporal   Tilghman,   of  company  C.,  (rifles,)  brought  up  a 
small  howitzer.     Private  Dusenbery  took  a  lieutenant  of  ar 
tillery  prisoner,  and  turned  him  over  to  Surgeon  Reynolds. 
By  this  time  a  good  many  of  the  men  had  returned,  and  were 
in  the  Plaza  in  scattered  groups,  when  the  lancers  charged 
them  suddenly  and  unexpectedly.    The  troops  received  them 
with  great  bravery,  and  kept  the  plaza,  with  the  exception  of 
a  few  under  Captain  Walker,  who  retired  by  a  street  leading 
west  from  the  plaza  ;    they  were  joined  by  Lieutenant  Clai 
borne  and  his  party,  who  were  approaching  the  square.  Cap 
tain  Walker  led  them  from  the  plaza — the  enemy  close  on 
them  at  a  charge  ;  he  turned  the  next  street  to  his  left,  while 
the  enemy  seeing  the  four-pounder,  rushed  to  it  to  retake  it. 
It  was  fortunate  for  the  few  men  with  Captain  Walker  that 
the  Mexicans  saw  this  piece,  for  at  the  very  next  corner  a  still 
larger  force  met  him  ;  he  wheeled,  and  dashing  swiftly  past 
the  rear  of  those  who  had  cut  him  off  from  the  plaza,  again 


64  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

entered  it.  Here  the  men  dismounted  and  occupied  the  con 
vent  yard,  together  with  a  large  house  on  the  corner  of  the 
square. 

At  this  juncture,  Captain  Walker,  while  examining  the  ap 
proach  of  the  enemy,  and  looking  at  the  four  pounder  on  our 
right,  was  shot  from  behind,  from  a  house  displaying  the  white 
flag.  He  sunk  down  immediately,  and  was  borne  into  the 
yard,  the  men  bursting  into  tears  as  the  cry  spread  amongst 
them,  "  Captain  Walker  is  killed." 


Camp  Hydropathy. 

While  the  army  was  encamped  at  Buena  Vista,  the  soldiers 
frequently  amused  themselves  by  getting  *  corned' ;  One 
day  a  dragoon  rode  into  camp  so  drunk  as  to  be  scarcely  able 
to  keep  a  straight  seat  on  his  horse.  One  of  his  comrades 
seized  his  horse's  bridle  and  endeavored  to  hold  the  animal, 
but  the  rider  was  obstinately  drunk  and  digging  his  spurs  into 
his  horse,  he  sprang  from  the  grasp  of  his  comrade  and  dash 
ed  off  at  a  terrific  pace.  After  driving  up  to  a  thick  wall 
and  striking  his  head  against  it  violently,  he  wheeled,  and 
bolting  off  in  a  different  direction,  the  rider  was  thrown  for 
cibly  to  the  ground,  and  it  was  thought  killed.  Upon  exam 
ination,  however,  he  was  found  to  be  only  stunned,  and  to 
have  received  no  injury  of  a  serious  character.  "  The  big 
drunk"  was  upon  him  very  strong,  though,  and  the  lieutenant 
ordered  buckets  of  water  to  be  brought,  and  the  drunken^ 
man  to  be  stripped.  After  half  a  dozen  buckets  of  water  had 
been  dashed  over  him,  the  operators  withdrew,  and  the  man 
began  to  "  come  to."  He  raised  himself  up  and  stared  va 
cantly  about,  but  almost  immediately  lay  down  again  and 
relapsed  into  his  drunken  fit.  A  few  more  pails  of  water 
nearly  restored  him,  and  upon  the  lieutenant's  calling  him  by 
name,  he  uttered  a  very  thick  and  puddingly  "  S-w-r  !'* 


COL.   WYNKOOP    AND    CAPT.   WALKER. 


65 


"  Get  up,  sir,"  said  his  officer.  After  several  ludicrous  and 
ineffectual  attempts,  he  raised  himself  and  braced  up  against 
a  tree.  "  Where  are  your  clothes,  sir?"  demanded  the  lieu 
tenant,  sternly.  The  poor  wretch  surveyed  himself  from  top 
to  toe  with  the  most  bewildered  expression  of  countenance,  as 
if  to  assure  himself  that  he  was  not  dreaming,  and,  apparently 
not  perfectly  convinced  of  the  reality  of  his  being  in  a  most 
complete  state  of  nudity,  he  passed  his  hand  over  his  breast 
and  shoulders,  and  then  turning  to  his  officer  with  a  most 
indescribable  air,  he  replied,  "  It  makes  no  difference,"  taking 
another  survey  of  his  person,  and  then  of  the  soldiers  who 
stood  about  him,  he  cried  out  in  a  most  ludicrous  tone  of 
command,  "  Bring  another  bucket  of  water,"  amidst  a  roar 
of  laughter.  A  frequent  application  of  the  pure  element,  not 
in  infinitesimal  doses,  soon  restored  him  sufficiently  to  admit 
of  his  being  '  bucked'  under  the  waggon  for  several  hours. 


Colonel  Wynkoop  and  Captain  Walker. 
I  heard  a  touching  incident  of  Colonel  Wynkoop  and 
Captain  Walker  yesterday,  which  I  fear  I  cannot  give  as  I 
received  it.  It  is  known,  probably,  in  the  United  States, 
that  difficulties  had  existed  between  these  officers,  which 
their  mutual  friends  always  regretted.  They  had,  I  believe, 
preferred  charges  against  each  other ;  but  when  Colonel 
Wynkoop  heard  that  Captain  Walker  was  seriously  wounded, 
and  not  likely  to  live,  he  sent  a  staff  officer  to  request  an 
interview  with  the  dying  officer.  Before  {he  return  of  the 
messenger,  the  Colonel  hastened  to  where  the  captain  lay, 
and  found  him  dead.  The  shock  to  him  was  overwhelming, 
and  he  could  scarcely  utter  a  word.  In  a  few  moments, 
however,  he  said,  with  much  emotion,  "I  would  have  given 
six  years  of  my  life  for  one  word  with  that  man  !  " — and 


66  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

turned  from  the  corpse  to  ask  of  General  Lane  the  command 
of  Walker's  troop,  that  he  might  dash  upon  the  retreating 
enemy,  and  revenge  the  death  of  the  gallant  trooper.  The 
General  refused  his  request,  as  Walker's  men  had  been 
greatly  reduced,  and  those  not  killed  were  much  exhausted  ; 
the  colonel  returned  to  his  command  with  a  heavy  heart. — 
Letter  from  an  officer. 


The  night  after  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista. 

The  night  after  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista  was  one  of  the 
most  intense  anxiety  to  the  participators  in  the  bloody  fight. 
After  twelve  hours  of  obstinate  fighting,  with  the  final  result 
yet  unknown,  nothing  but  water  having  passed  the  lips  of  those 
gallant  men  for  the  last  twelve  hours,  the  flower  of  their  re 
spective  corps  dead  or  wounded,  and  the  certainty  of  a  re 
newal  of  the  onslaught  the  next  day,  it  is  hard  to  imagine  a 
period  more  calculated  to  "  try  men's  souls"  than  that  night. 
After  the  cessation  of  the  fight,  came  the  lassitude  superin 
duced  by  the  extraordinary  excitement  of  the  day :  men  fell 
exhausted,  and  bivouacked  in  line—"  the  weary  to  rest  and 
the  wounded  fo  die."  The  depression  of  physical  energy 
was  so  great  that  neither  hunger  nor  danger  could  incite  them. 
That  bloody  field  was  at  eight  o'clock  as  silent  as  the  grave. 
It  can  only  be  surmised  what  ^ere  the  feelings  of  that  "  great 
old  man"  upon  contemplating  the  results  of  that  day's  work. 
No  officers  sought  repose,  and  the  camp  fires,  which  on  other 
occasions  had  been  the  scene  of  jest  and  merriment,  were 
now  still,  and  the  deep  anxiety  depicted  on  the  faces  of  the 
various  groups  of  officers  impressed  you  with  a 
solemnity,  a  foreboding  of  ill,  that  was  truly  painful.  All 
eyes  were  turned  ever  and  anon  to  the  tent  of  one  upon  whom 
all  their  hopes  were  placed,  but  not  a  light,  not  a  movement 
could  be  discerned.  The  occasion  made  that  single  tent  an 


A    MEXICAN    FANATIC.  67 

object  of  intense  solicitude.  Some  wondered  if  he  was- alone, 
others  would  have  given  their  earthly  wealth  to  have  known 
the  thoughts,  the  hopes,  the  wishes,  and  the  intentions  of 
the  old  hero  ;  but  all  was  dark  and  silent  as  the  tomb.  Capt. 
L.,  of  the  Topographical  Engineers,  had  visited  the  battle 
ground  at  night.  He  had  made  some  discoveries  he  thought 
important  to  be  communicated  to  jhe  commander-in-chief. 
On  approaching  the  general's  quarters,  he  overtook  his  ser 
vant,  who  had  been  attending  to  his  master's  cavalry,  and 
inquired  if  the  *  old  man  '  was  alone  and  awake.  "  I  spec 
he  fast  asleep  Captin,  for  he  eat  a  monstrous  hearty  supper, 
and  when  he  eat  a  big  supper  he  sleep  bery  hard*  and  sound, 
and  I  reckon  you  wont  see  *  de  old  hos '  'fore  four  o'clock 
in  de  mornin.  Listen,  you  hear  him  snore  clean  out  here." 
When  the  Captain  made  a  report  of  this  last  reconnoisance, 
joy  and  satisfaction  were  diffused  throughout  the  camp.  They 
knew  that  all  was  safe. 


Capture  and  death  of  a  Mexican  Fanatic. 
While  at  Camargo,  that  gallant  Texan  officer,  Colonel 
Cooke,  first  heard  of  the  inhuman  massacre  near  Ceralvo. 
He  started  in  pursuit  of  the  murderers,  to  rain  down  retribu 
tive  justice  on  their  heads  for  their  dastardly  conduct.  He 
succeeded  in  capturing  one  of  Urrea's  officers,  whose  fanati 
cism  no  doubt  instigated  the  atrocities,  too  revolting  to  de 
cency  and  manhood  to  be  described.  He  was  identified  as 
the  murderer  of  Burns,  and  was  seen  to  mangle  most  horribly 
the  dead  bodies  of  the  American  teamsters.  Moved  by  the 
spirit  of  a  demon,  he  attempted,  and  would  have  murdered 
the  grief  distracted  daughter  of  the  unfortunate  Burns,  but 
for  the  interference  of  a  brother  officer  in  the  same  division. 
After  he  was  taken  and  bound  by  thongs  around  the  wrists 
he  sprang,  seized  a  pistol  which  Colonel  Cooke  had  laid 


6S  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

down,  and  fired  at  and  wounded  him  in  the  knee.  En 
raged  for  an  instant,  he  drew  his  sword,  but  his  anger  melted 
away  at  the  sight  of  the  cords  which  confined  his  arms,  and 
he  desisted  from  his  hasty  purpose.  He  was  then  placed  in 
a  wagon,  with  a  sick  soldier,  guarded  by  a  file  of  men,  and 
was  thus  conveyed  until  they  reached  the  spot  where  the  mas 
sacre  had  taken  place.  A  halt  was  called  until  the  rites  of 
burial  could  be  performed.  One  of  the  company  who  had 
lost  a  brother  in  the  fight,  stole  with  his  rifle,  unperceived, 
to  the  distance  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  the 
wagon,  where  he  secreted  himself  behind  a  bush,  and  waited 
until  his  comrades  left  an  open  space  between  him  and  the 
butcherer  of  his  brother,  when  he  fired  and  drove  a  ball 
through  his  bosom.  The  desperate  man,  feeling  that  the 
thread  which  bound  him  to  life  was  cut,  snatched  the  gun  of 
the  sick  soldier  and  made  an  almost  superhuman  effort  to 
shoot  one  of  the  guards,  which  he  came  within  a  hair's 
breadth  of  accomplishing,  and  then  expired. 


Incident  at  Bucna  Vista. 

After  the  battle  I  was  ordered  with  sixteen  men  to  escort 
Major  Bliss  with  a  flag  of  truce  to  Santa  Anna.  When  we 
arrived  within  about  one  hundred  yards  of  a  regiment  of 
lancers,  which  seemed  to  be  the  rear  guard,  we  were  halted. 
Major  Bliss  was  blindfolded  and  conducted  to  Santa  Anna. 
On  the  departure  of  the  Major,  a  platoon  of  lancers  was  or 
dered  from  the  regiment,  and  took  post  facing  my  platoon, 
and  within  ten  steps  of  me.  The  lieutenant  in  command 
dismounted  his  men ;  I  did  the  same.  He  was  a  fat,  good- 
looking  fellow  ;  wore  a  short  sack  coat,  neatly  trimmed  with 
lace,  and  seemed  quite  pompous.  As  he  dismounted  he 
handed  the  bridle  rein  to  his  orderly,  and  commenced  strut 
ting  before  his  platoon,  in  a  very  haughty  manner.  Presently 


RUM    VS.    SOLDIER.  69 

he  called  his  orderly,  who  handed,  from  a  pocket  in  the  side 
of  his  saddle,  a  bottle  from  which  he  took  a  drink,  without 
saying  a  word  to  me,  much  to  my  astonishment,  and  com 
menced  strutting  as  before.  I  just  then  recollected  I  had  in 
my  holster  a  small  bottle  of  whiskey,  and  that  it  would  not 
do  to  be  outdone  by  this  Mexicano  :  so  I  handed  my  rein  to 
the  right  file  of  my  platoon,  and  commenced  playing  the  pea 
cock  in  front  of  my  men.  In  a  few  minutes  I  halted  short, 
and  ordered  my  bugler  to  hand  me  the  bottle  out  of  the  hol 
ster,  and  I  took  a  drink,  curled  my  mustache,  and  continued 
peacocking  it.  As  soon  as  my  Mexican  friend  saw  my  imi 
tating  movements  he  walked  faster — I  increased  my  pace — 
he  halted  and  took  a  drink  ;  I  halted  and  took  a  drink.  Thus 
we  performed  for  some  time,  until  I  actually  bluffed  him  off, 
for  he  walked  to  the  rear  of  his  platoon — when  I  halted  and 
sat  down  on  the  grass. — Letter  from  an  Officer. 


Rum  vs.  Soldier. 

"  Yes,  sir,  I'm  a  volunteer.  I'm  proud  to  say  I'm  one  of 
'em — one  of  those  patriotic  sons  that  have  left  the  comforts 
of  a  home,  the  delights  of  a  fireside,  hove  down  the  imple 
ment  of  the  husbandman,  and  chucked  the  tool  of  the  me 
chanic  into  the  chimney  place,  buckled  on  the  cartridge  box, 
and  taken  up  the  musket  to  go  into  the  heart  of  an  enemy's 
country,  and  all  for  the  honor  of  mine.  Yes,  sir,  the  flame 
of  patriotism  was  kindled  in  my  breast,  and  went  off  in  a 
light  blaze  at  the  very  first  shot  which  was  fired  on  the  mortal 
plains  of  Paler  Alter,  and  it  is  a  consuming  me  with  its  ter 
rible  violence."  Such  were  the  "  neat  and  appropriate 
remarks,"  which  emanated  from  the  lips  of  an  individual  in 
a  very  war-worn  and  dirty  suit  of  half-military  clothes,  after 
the  Recorder  had  addressed  him  blandly  as  Mr.  Peagrim 
and  inquired  of  him  whether  he  was  a  soldier. 


70  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

"  You  are  charged  here,  sir,  with  being  intoxicated  last 
night,  and  of  disturbing  the  peace  of  the  city." 

"  Is  it  possible  that  such  a  charge  as  that  has  been  fetched 
against  me  ?"  said  Mr.  Peagrim. 

"  Well,  it  aint  the  fust  time.  My  persecutors  follers  me 
everywhere.  I  was  accused  of  being  drunk  afore  I  'listed,  I 
was  accused  of  being  drunk  when  I  'listed,  and  I  was  dis 
charged  for  being  drunk.  In  Mexico  I  fought  the  battles  of 
my  country,  and  I  poked  it  into  the  Mexicans  lively.  I  was 
in  four  battles,  and  distinguished  myself  in  every  one  of  'em. 
At  the  sound  of  the  first  gun  I  fell  back,  in  good  order  to  the 
rear,  to  protect  the  baggage,  but  unable  to  appreciate  my 
great  military  skill  and  courage,  they  accused  me  of  running 
away,  and  my  captain  gave  me  fits.  The  physicians  said  I 
had  been  cupped  too  often,  and  recommended  my  discharge. 
I  came  home,  sir," — here  he  became  very  much  affected — 
"  but  when  I  landed  on  the  levee,  I  didn't  hear  ne'er  a  can 
non  thunderin'  out  my  welcome.  There  wasn't  no  loud 
shouts  of  the  populace  when  I  arrived,  except  when  I  fell 
into  the  water  in  getting  ashore.  I  didn't  see  no  military 
turned  out  to  escort  me  through  the  streets,  and  I  was  com 
pelled  to  walk  alone  in  the  place  de  armys  and  go  through 
the  magnificent  arch,  that  had  been  built  for  my  reception 
expressly,  with  all  them  green  things  and  signs  on  it.  For 
a  moment  I  felt  my  heart  was  too  full  for  utterance,  but  I 
thanked  the  people,  that  was  about,  for  the  compliment,  but 
they  only  laughed  at  me  and  hove  stones.  With  a  broken 
heart  I  went  straight  off  and  liquored. — N.  O.  Pic. 


Captain  Henrie. 

Captain  Henrie  was  with  the  scouting  party  of  Majors 
Gaines  and  Borland  at  the  time  of  its  capture  by  the  Mexi 
cans.  It  was  gomposed  of  three  companies  of  the  Kentucky 


CAPTAIN    HENRIE.  71 

and  Arkansas  cavalry,  and  numbered  about  seventy.  At  a 
considerable  distance  from  camp,  they  were  surrounded  by 
about  two  thousand  horsemen,  under  General  Minon,  and 
induced  to  surrender,  on  promise  of  being  treated  as  prisoners 
of  war.  The  whole  party  were  then  conducted  under  a  strong 
escort  toward  the  city  of  Mexico.  One  officer,  however, 
escaped — he  was  Captain  Henrie. 

He  was  very  anxious  for  a  fight,  and,  with  Capt.  Cassius 
M.  Clay,  strongly  dissuaded  Major  ,Gaines  from  surrendering. 
He  told  the  men  to  count  their  bullets,  and  if  they  had  one 
for  every  two  Mexicans,  it  was  a  fair  game  and  he  would  go 
it.  He  also  cautioned  them  to  hit  the  Mexicans  below  their 
beards,  that  they  might  frighten  off  the  others  by  their  groans, 
and  to  give  them  as  much  misery  as  possible.  One  of  the 
Mexican  officers,  recognizing  him,  cried  out  in  Spanish,  "I 
shall  have  the  pleasure  of  your  company  to  the  city  of  Mex 
ico,  Captain  Henrie!"  "Excuse  me,  senor,  I  generally 
choose  my  own  company ;"  replied  the  cool  and  courtly 
captain, 

It  was  the  second  day  after  their  capture,  and  near  the 
town  of  Salado,  famous  in  Texan  history  as  the  place  of  the 
decimation  of  the  Mier  prisoners,  that  Major  Gaines's  high- 
spirited  mare  showing  considerable  restlessness,  the  major 
requested  Captain  Henrie,  who  is  a  famous  rider  of  the  Jack 
Hays  school,  to  "  mount  her  and  take  off  the  wire-edge  of 
her  spirit."  The  captain  did  so,  and  riding  up  to  Captain 
Clay,  carelessly  remarked,  "  Clay,  1  am  going  to  make  a 
break."  The  Mexican  commander,  half  suspecting  his  de 
sign,  placed  additional  forces  at  the  head  and  rear  of  the 
column  of  lancers,  within  which  the  prisoners  were  placed,, 
and  rode  himself  by  the  side  of  Henrie,  who  would  pace  up 
and  down  the  line,  cracking  jokes  with  the  boys,  and  firing 
up  the  spirit  of  the  mare  by  various  ingenious  manoeuvres. 
At  last,  Henrie,  seeing  a  favorable  opportunity,  plunged  his 
spurs  deep  into  the  sides  of  the  noble  blood,  and  rushing 


72  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

against,  and  knocking  down  three  or  four  of  the  mustangs 
with  their  lancers,  started  off  in  full  view  of  the  whole  party, 
at  a  rate  of  speed  equal  to  the  best  time  that  Boston  or 
Fashion  ever  made.  After  him  rushed  half  a  dozen  well- 
mounted  lancers,  who,  firing  their  escopetas  at  him,  started 
off  in  close  pursuit.  But  it  was  no  race  at  all — the  Kentucky 
blood  was  too  much  for  the  mustang.  The  lancers  were 
soon  distanced,  and  the  last  view  they  got  of  Henrie,  he  was 
flying  up  a  steep  mountain,  waving  his  white  handkerchief, 
and  crying  out  in  a  voice  which  echoed  afar  off  through  the 
valley.  "Adios,  sefiores — adios,  senores  !" 

The  prisoners,  forgetting  their  situation,  gave  three  loud 
cheers  as  they  saw  the  gallant  Henrie  leaving  his  pursuers 
far  behind,  and  safely  placed  beyond  their  reach.  The  sub 
sequent  adventures  and  sufferings  of  Henrie  are  well  known. 
After  many  narrow  escapes  from  the  enemy  and  starvation, 
and  after  loosing  his  noble  mare,  he  arrived  safely  at  camp, 
and  gave  the  first  authentic  intelligence,  of  the  capture  of 
Majors  Gaines  and  Borland's  party. 


Magnanimity  of  General  Shields. 

On  the  19th  of  August,  the  army  approached  the  position 
of  Contreras,  a  strongly  entrenched  camp,  defended  by  twenty 
large  cannon.  On  that  day  our  advanced  troops  suffered 
much  from  the  constant  fire  of  the  enemy's  artillery.  The 
night  closed  gloomily.  The  rain  poured  down  in  torrents, 
and  the  darkness  was  so  great,  that  many  of  our  troops  were 
dispersed  over  the  country,  unable  to  find  their  camps  and 
head-quarters.  The  suffering  and  depression  which  prevail 
ed  throughout  the  whole  army  that  night  cannot  be  well 
described.  Before  them,  and  on  the  road  to  the  city,  Santa 
Anna  had,  by  incredible  exertions,  fortified  a  position  of 
great  natural  strength,  and  collected  behind  it  an  immense 


TEXAS    RANGERS.  73 

and  well-equipped  army.  And  here  was  our  little  army,  with 
out  quarters,  exposed  to  a  merciless  storm  of  cold  rain,  with 
most  inadequate  means,  and  insufficient  ammunition,  brought 
to  a  stand  by  one  of  the  enemy's  outposts.  But  there  were 
two  men,  at  least,  in  our  army,  who,  amid  all  these  discour 
agements,  preserved  their  confidence  and  courage  unshaken. 
They  were  Winfield  Scott  and  Persifor  F.  Smith.  The 
latter,  with  the  eye  of  a  true  soldier,  had  surveyed  the  field, 
and  conceived  the  plan  by  which  he  was  confident  of  carry 
ing  that  important  position.  Through  his  Aid,  he  commu 
nicated  his  plan  to  Gen.  Scott,  who  was  three  miles  off,  and 
who,  with  a  map  before  him,  was  engaged  in  tracing  the 
operations  which  he  had  determined  to  .be  the  order  of  the 
next  day.  Gen.  Scott  was  struck  with  Smith's  strategy, 
approved  it  fully,  and  sent  Shields  to  aid  him.  That  night 
Shields'  brigade  was  under  arms,  and  commenced  a  night 
march  over  a  strange  and  horribly  rough  country,  and  under 
an  unceasing  shower  of  rain.  Over  the  rough  pedregal, 
through  the  corn-fields,  wading  ditches,  and  ascending  and 
descending  ravines  where  the  men  would  have  to  cling  to 
e,very  hanging  root  or  tree  to  save  them  from  falling,  Shields' 
gallant  volunteers  proceeded  to  join  Smith.  When  the  latter 
saw  Shields  coming  up,  he  turned  pale,  and  could  not  conceal 
the  mortification  and  disappointment  he  felt  in  being  ranked 
just  on  the  eve  of  the  great  battle  he  had  so  skilfully  matured. 
"Make  yourself  easy,  General  Smith,"  remarked  the  gener 
ous  and  magnanimous  Shields  ,  as  he  saluted  him, — "  You 
missed  your  chance  at  Cerro  Gordo,  but  you  shall  have  it 
now.  I  will  assist,  but  not  command  you." 


Texan  Ranger. 

A  small  party  of  Colonel  C.  F.  Smith's  police  guard  of 
the  city  was  fired  on  by  a  band  of  robbers  or  guerillas  occu- 

7 


74  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

pying  a  house  in  the  suburbs  of  the  city.  Not  deeming  their 
force  sufficient  to  assault  the  house,  they  took  a  position  that 
would  prevent  escape,  and  sent  for  a  reinforcement.  The 
doors  were  then  forced,  and  all  its  inmates  captured  except 
one,  who  jumped  out  of  a  window,  mounted  a  horse  and 
dashed  off  at  full  speed.  As  he  started  off,  he  drew  a  pistol 
and  fired  it  off  into  the  crowd — without  however,  injuring 
any  one.  There  was  one  of  Jack  Hay's  Rangers  standing 
close  by,  apparently  a  silent  spectator  of  the  whole  affair ; 
but  as  soon  as  the  Mexican*  fired  his  pistol,  he  leisurely  drew 
his  revolver,  remarking,  "  Ah,  ha,  my  larkey,  that's  a  game 
that  two  can  play  at!"  and  at  the  crack  of  the  pistol  down 
came  the  Mexican. 

The  Texan  then  mounted  his  own  horse,  and  after  run 
ning  four  or  five  hundred  yards,  lassoed  the  horse  and  re 
turned  with  him,  saying  to  the  officer  present,  "  Well,  Cap 
tain,  as  I  knocked  the  centre  out  of  that  fellow,  I  s'pose  I'm 
entitled  to  his  pony."  The  officer  replied  in  the  affirmative, 
and  the  Texan  rode  off  as  cool  as  though  it  was  an  every 
day  business  with  him.  The  Mexicans  who  were  taken  in 
the  house  were  sent  off  to  the  guardhouse,  and  tried  by  a 
military  commission. 


"  I  couldn't  help  it." 

General  Quitman  relates  the  following  incident:  "With 
in  a  mile  of  the  city  of  Mexico,,  where  you  know  we  had  hard 
fighting,  I  was  standing  talking  to  General  Shields  as  to  the 
mode  of  action.  Before  us  the  Mexican  cannon  were  belch 
ing  forth  fire  and  smoke  and  the  musketeers  were  not  idle. 
General  Shields  left  me.  I  took  out  my  pocket  glass  to  re 
connoitre,  to  see  where  we  could  make  the  most  effective 
attack,  and  while  I  had  it  to  my  eye,  I  heard  something  fall 
heavily  near  my  feet.  I  looked  down  and  behold  it  was  one 


APPLYING    TO    THE    HEAD    BOSS.  75 

of  my  men.  A  ball  had  struck  him  in  the  knee  and  he  was 
bleeding  profusely.  His  wound  was  tied  up  with  a  handker 
chief,  and  he  was  removed  about  five  feet  from  me.  I  was 
interested  for  the  man.  He  was  unable  to  sit  even.  He  had 
twisted  himself  around,  and  was  feeling  for  his  musket,  which 
he  finally  caught  by  the  bayonet,  and  drew  it  to  him.  Occa 
sionally  I  glanced  in  the  direction  of  the  soldier.  While  I 
had  been  attending  to  other  matters,  he  had  turned  on  his  side 
and  had  actually  his  gun  in  shooting  position.  He  fired  at 
the  enemy !  I  approached  and  remarked  to  him,  "  My 
good  fellow  haven't  you  had  enough  of  fighting  yet?' 
He  looked  at  me,  and  in  a  tone  which  seemed  to  ask  forgive 
ness,  replied,  "Why,  General — I — couldn't  help  it." 
"*i  imA'^-  Ji 


Applying  to  the  Head  Boss. 

11  Plaze,  sir,"  said  an  Irish  soldier,  touching  his  hat  to  his 
captain,  "whin  will  we  be  paid  off,  sir?  "In  a  few  days, 
Patrick,"  replied  the  officer.  "  Yis,  sir,"  continued  Pat, 
"  and  whin,  sir,  will  we  be  after  Santy  Anny,  the  black 
guard?"  "  That's  more  than  I  can  tell  you,  Patrick;  its 
rather  hard  to  tell  when  or  where  he  will  show  himself,"  re 
plied  the  officer.  "  Yis,  sir,  thank  you  kindly,  sir,  we'll  be 
paid  off  in  a  few  days  any  ways,  however,"  said  Pat,  as  he 
touched  his  hat  again  and  retired.  In  a  few  days  he  again 
appeared  and  opened  the  conversation  with. — "If  ye  plaze, 
sir,  divil  the  copper  have  we  been  paid  yet,  sir !  "  "I  know 
it,  Patrick,"  was  the  reply  of  the  officer,  "  but  I  can't  help 
it ;  they  are  waiting  for  the  paymaster  to  arrive."  "  Oh,  it's 
the  paymaster  we're  a  waiting  for,  is  it  ?  and  what  the  divil's 
the  excuse  he  has  for  not  bein'  here  when  he  is  wanted  ? 
What's  the  use  of  havin'  a  paymaster,  if  he  isn't  on  the  spot 
whin  he's  wanted  ?  "  said  Pat,  beginning  to  wax  indignant 
at  having  to  wait  so  long  for  his  '  tin.'  The  circumstance 


76  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

caused  him  much  uneasiness,  and  after  cogitating  the  matter 
over  and  over,  he  was  struck  with  a  luminous  idea,  and  an 
nounced  to  his  comrades  that  he'd  have  his  money  before  you 
could  say  "thread  on  my  coat."  One  morning  immediately 
after  breakfast,  off  posted  Pat  to  General  Taylor's  camp,  and 
approaching  his  tent,  enquired  of  a  soldier  standing  by,  where 
the  General's  '  shanty'  was.  "  That's  his  tent,"  said  the 
sentinel,  pointing  out  the  general's  quarters.  "And  is  that 
the  Gineral's  tent?  "  said  Pat,  taking  off  his  hat  and  rubbing 
his  hand  over  his  hair,  which  had  been  cut  to  that  degree  of 
shortness  peculiar  to  the  natives  of  Erin's  green  isle.  "And 
where's  the  Gineral's  old  grey  boss  ?"  inquired  Pat.  "  There" 
replied  the  soldier,  indicating  the  spot,  where  the  old  horse 
stood  lazily  whisking  the  flies  away  with  his  tail.  "And  is 
that  the  old  boss?"  again  inquired  the  sprig  of  Erin,  with 
great  awe,  "  an'  where,  if  you  plaze  sir,  is  the  old  gintleman 
himself?  "  continued  Pat.  "  There  be  sits  under  that  awn 
ing,"  answered  the  soldier.  "What!"  exclaimed  Pat,  in 
almost  a  whisper,  and  in  a  tone  amounting  to  reverence,  "  an* 
is  that  the  old  gintleman?  "  "Yes,"  said  the  soldier  walk 
ing  away,  "  that's  General  Taylor."  After  gazing  upon  the 
*  war-worn  veteran'  in  silent  admiration  for  a  while,  he  at 
last  mustered  sufficient  courage  to  approach  him.  "  I  beg 
your  pardon  Gineral,  but  you'll  plaze  to  excuse  the  bit  of 
liberty  I'm  taking  in  presuming  to  call  on  your  honor,  but  if 
you  plaze,  sir,  I  come  on  a  little  mather  of  business,  bein'  as 
I  thought  maybe  you  might  be  afther  helpin'  us  out  of  a  little 
bit  of  a  scrape."  "  Well,"  said  the  General  kindly,  "  what 
is  the  trouble,  and  what  do  you  wish  ?  " 

"  If  you  plaze,  sir,  I'd  like  to  know  when  the  hands  will 
be  paid  off,  sir?  " 

"  When  the  hands  will  be  paid  off?  "  repeated  the  General 
a  little  puzzled. 

"  Yis  sir,  if  you  plaze  to  have  the  goodness.  The  hands 
have  had  divil  the  cint  of  wages  since  they've  been  in  the 
country." 


AN    AFFECTING    SCENE.  77 

Oh,  I  understand,  you're  a  volunteer,  and  wish  to  know 
when  you'll  be  paid  off.  Well,  my  good  lellow,  you  must 
apply  to  your  company  officers  for  that  information,  I  have 
nothing  to  do  with  it." 

"  Beggin'  your  pardon,  sir,  I  did  ax  the  boss  about  it,  but 
he  didn't  give  me  no  sort  of  satisfaction  about  it,  and  so  I 
told  the  other  hands  I  would  fix  it;  and  bein'  as  you're  the 
head  boss,  I  thought  I'd  be  comin'  over  heije  to  see  if  you 
couldn't  give  us  some  satisfaction." 

The  *  head  boss'  being  unable  to  relieve  the  anxiety  of 
Pat,  the  latter  retired  to  the  'other  hands,'  having  the  satis 
faction  of  saying,  that  although  he  had  failed  in  the  object  of 
his  mission,  he  had  seen  the  '  head  boss'  and  his  '  shanty' 
and  '  the  old  grey  horse'  which  was  "  glory  enough  for  one 
day." 


;irt»,'</'     f.-  . 

An  Affecting  Scene. 

Jesus  Pico  (brother  of  Pio  Pico,  governor  of  California,) 
was  condemned  to  be  shot,  for  breaking  his  parole,  and 
also  for  heading  an  insurrection.  Twelve  was  the  hour 
fixed  for  execution.  At  eleven,  the  wife  and  children  of 
Pico,  with  a  crowd  of  Ladies  rushed  into  the  room  of  Lieut. 
Col.  Fremont,  (at  that  time  commandant,)  and  fell  upon 
their  knees,  beseeching  in  the  most  piteous  accents  to  par 
don  the  husband  and  father.  The  children  of  Pico  clung 
to  Col.  Fremont's  knees  and  prayed  for  their  father's  life. 
The  wife,  with  an  agonizing  look,  begged  him  not  to  render 
her  children  fatherless  and  herself  a  widow.  Shrieks  and 
groans  were  mingled  with  their  supplications.  Col.  Frement 
was  unable  to  look  upon  the  heart-rending  scene,  and  hid 
his  face  in  his  hands ;  and  the  word  pardon  involuntarily 
escaped  from  his  lips.  He  was  not  formed  to  resist  the 
supplications  of  those  in  distress,  and  the  warm  feelings  of 
tiis  nature  prompted  him  to  pardon  Pico. 
7* 


78  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

The  tumult  of  feelings  took  a  different  turn.  Joy  and 
gratitude  broke  out,  filled  the  room  with  benedictions,  and 
spread  to  those  without.  Blessings  were  showered  upon 
Fremont's  head  in  myriads ;  every  tongue  vicing  in  thank 
fulness.  To  finish  the  scene,  the  condemned  man  was 
brought  in  ;  and  then  the  whole  impulsiveness  and  fire  of 
the  Spanish  character,  when  excited  by  some  powerful 
emotion,  was  fully  developed.  He  had  been  calm,  com 
posed,  quiet,  and  almost  silent,  under  his  trial  and  condem 
nation  ;  but,  at  the  word  *  pardon,'  a  storm  of  impetuous 
feeling  burst  forth,  and,  throwing  himself  at  the  feet  of  CoL 
Fremont,  he  swore  to  him  an  eternal  fidelity,  and  demanded 
the  privilege  of  going  with  him  and  dying  for  him ! 

But  it  was  not  yet  over  with  Col.  Fremont.  His  own 
men  required  the  death  of  Pico ;  he  had  done  them  much 
harm,  and,  in  fact,  was  the  head  of  the  insurrection  in  that 
district,  and  had  broken  his  parole.  The  Colonel  went 
among  them,  and  calmed  the  ferment  in  his  own  camp.  But 
others,  who  were  not  there,  have  since  cried  out  for  the 
execution  of  Pico,  and  made  his  pardon  an  accusation 
against  Col.  Fremont.  The  pacified  state  of  the  country 
will  answer  the  accusation,  and  show  that  it  was  a  case  in 
which  policy  and  humanity  went  together. 


Santa  Anna's  Gamecocks. 

A  party  of  dragoons,  while  exploring  the  premises  of 
Santa  Anna,  at  Mango  de  Clavo,  came  upon  the  building 
where  he  kept  his  gamecocks.  (Santa  Anna  is  well  known 
for  his  propensity  to  fight  cocks,  though  he  is  not  quite  so 
keen  to  fight  <  Los  Yankees '.)  There  was  an  immense 
deal  of  cock-fighting  in  that  neighborhood  for  several  days. 
The  opportunity  of  fighting  Santa  Anna's  cocks  was  too 
rare  to  be  allowed  to  pass  away  unhonored  ;  so  the  officers 


THE    RIFLES.  79 

had  rare  sport.  One  particular  fight  created  great  excite 
ment.  A  fierce  looking  fellow,  which  they  dubbed  *  General 
Taylor,'  (not  so  large  as  some,  but  with  the  game  sticking 
out  all  over  him,)  was  pitted  against  along,  gangling  chicken, 
that  bore  his  owner's  name — a  heavy  but  clumsy  bird,  with 
but  little  fight  in  him. 

Well,  General  Taylor  and  Santa  Anna,  as  represented 
by  the  .cocks  of  the  latter,  were  set  upon  one  another,  and 
after  a  few  heavy  hits  from  the  former,  the  latter  '  bambosed' 
out  of  the  fight  as  fast  his  two  legs  would  carry  him,  leaving 
General  Taylor's  representative  upon  the  ground,  crowing 
quite  lustily.  Cheers,  of  course,  were  raised  for  '  Rough 
and  Ready,'  both  cock  and  man  ;  but  a  dragoon  cried  out 
"  Licked  on  his  own  dunghill,  by  G — d  !  " 


The  Rifles 

I  rejoice  in  the  glorious  laurels  which  the  rifles  have  won. 
It  is,  as  all  acknowledge,  the  fighting  regiment  of  the  army. 
It  entered  Chapultepec  simultaneously  with  the  storming 
party.  It  was  first  in  all  the  enemy's  works  from  Chapulte 
pec  to  the  citadel.  It  was  the  first  that  entered  the  city,  and 
first  planted  its  triumphant  banner  on  the  palace  of  the  Monte- 
zumas.  Wherever  bloody  work  was  to  be  done,  "  the  rifles" 
was  the  cry,  and  there  they  were.  All  speak  of  them  in  terms 
of  admiration.  Let  me  give  you  but  a  single  instance.  Some 
of  the  officers  and  men  were  standing  together  when  General 
Scott  happened  to  ride  by.  Checking  his  horse,  he  returned 
their  salute,  saying  with  great  energy  and  emphasis,  "  Brave 
Rifles  !  veterans  !  You  have  been  baptized  in  fire  and  blood 
and  have  come  out  steel!  "  Had  you  seen  the  unbidden 
tears  stealing  to  the  eyes  of  those  rough  but  gallant  spirits, 
whose  hearts  knew  no  fear,  and  who  had  never  yet,  in  their 
long  trial,  faltered  or  fallen  back,  while  their  flashing  eyes 


80  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

and  upright  forms  bespoke  its  truth,  you  would  have  felt  with 
me  that  such  words  as  those  wiped  out  long  months  of  hard 
ship  and  suffering.  But  what  told  still  more  the  tale  of  suf 
fering  and  death  were  the  deserted  ranks  and  scanty  numbers 
of  that  gallant  regiment.  Five  hundred  sturdy  men  left  Jef 
ferson  Barracks  for  the  plains  of  Mexico — one  hundred  and 
fifty-nine  have  met  us  here,  and  now  one  hundred  and  seventy 
alone  are  left  to  tell  the  tale.  The  fate  of  the  rest  you  know 
already.  Chapultepec's  bloody  hill,  Mexico's  capital,  have 
cost  us  an  hundred  noble  fellows,  while  seven  officers  have 
felt  that  the  rifles  were  doomed.  Our  gallant  major  lost  his 
arm  early  in  the  day.  Palmer  has  a  grapeshot  in  the  thigh. 
One  of  our  captains  saved  his  life  by  half  an  inch,  while  the 
rest,  whose  slighter  wounds  permit  them  to  be  about,  attend 
to  duty  from  necessity. — Letter  from  an  officer. 


Capture  of  Alvarado. 

One  day  Mister  Perry  wanted  to  have  a  chowder  of  Mexi- 
cano,  a  la  Alvarado^  and  was  going  to  let  all  the  school  go 
down  and  see  him  eat  it ,  and  he  asked  Mister  Scott  to  go 
down  with  his  school  too  ;  but  Mister  Scott  had  just  been 
eating  soup  a  la  Ulua,  and  he  did  not  care  a  pin  for  Mcxi- 
cano,  a  la  Alvarado ;  so  he  told  Usher  Quitman  he  might 
take  some  of  the  boys  and  go.  Then  Mister  Perry  told 
Master  Hunter,  who  had  just  come  to  school,  to  go  down  and 
watch  the  Alvarado,  and  keep  anything  from  getting  into  it 
till  he  could  come — for  Mister  Perry  could  not  go  fast. 

But  Master  Hunter  was  a  greedy  boy,  and  had  not  been 
well  brought  up,  and  did  not  care  ;  and  a  saucy  boy  and  had 
no  respect  for  his  betters,  and  his  parents  should  have  been 
whipped  for  not  whipping  him  more — for  so  soon  as  he  got 
where  it  was,  he  ate  up  all  the  Alvarado  and  more  too.  He 
was  very  hungry,  and  had  gone  a  good  ways ;  but  he  hadn't 


ELOQUENCE    OF    ACTIOX.  81 

orter  done  so — for  when  Mister  Perry  and  Usher  Quitman 
came,  they  could  get  nothing  to  eat,  and  had  to  go  back, 
feeling  worse  than*any  body  ever  felt  before  or  ever  will  feel 
again.  Then  Mister  Perry  shut  Master  Charley  up,  till  he 
and  the  ushers  could  find  out  what  to  do  with  him ;  and  one 
usher  thought  they  ought  to  put  a  piece  of  rope  round  his 
neck  and  tie  him  up  to  the  yard-arm.  But  Mister  Perry  did 
not  dare  do  that,  for  little  Charley  had  twenty  millions  of 
friends  who  would  have  done  so  to  him,  had  he  done  so  to 
Charley — so  that  all  Mister  Perry  could  do  was  to  send  him 
away  from  school  ;  but  he  gave  a  smart  man  two  shillings 
and  sixpence  to  write  a  reprimand  on  Master  Hunter,  and 
told  all  the  ushers  to  read  in  their  divisions. —  Yankee  Doodle. 


The  Eloquence  of  Action. 

We  rejoice  that  we  are  able  to  relate  one  good  thing  that 
occurred  while  Gen.  Shields  was  in  our  place.  A  good 
honest  laboring  son*  of  the  Green  Isle,  had  been  standing 
round  waiting  for  an  introduction  to  his  countryman,  the 
General.  Our  committee,  however,  being  men  of  exalted 
minds,  at  least  about  that  time,  did  not  see  the  honest  Hib 
ernian,  who  was  too  modest  to  ask  an  introduction,  but  fol 
lowed  the  crowd  to  the  railroad  depot,  where  some  of  our 
citizens  had  prepared  a  cannon  to  give  a  loud  farewell  to  Gen. 
Shields.  On  arriving  at  a  point  near  the  door  of  the  car, 
Gen.  Shields  halted  and  seemed,  for  a  moment,  to  be  in  sol 
emn  thought,  as  if  the  roaring  cannon  reminded  him  of  other 
scenes.  Our  honest  Irish  friend  during  the  time,  had  kept 
near  his  person  as  if  spell-bound,  until  about  the  time  the 
general  was  in  the  act  of  taking  his  final  leave.  Poor  Pat 
could  stand  it  no  longer ;  he  rushed  forward  to  the  general, 
caught  him  by  the  hand,  exclaiming,  "  How  are  you  my 
countryman  ?  I  am  prouder  of  you  than  you  are  of  yonr- 


82  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

self!  "  Gen.  Shields,  with  a  manner  that  showed  his  heart 
was  in  the  act,  taking  off  his  cap,  caught  the  hand  of  the 
poor  laborer,  and  gave  him  such  a  shake  as  none  but  a  noble 
heart  in  an  Irishman's  breast  could  give,  exclaiming  at  the 
same  time,  "How  do  you  do,  my  worthy  countryman?  I 
am  indeed  glad  to  meet  you  !  thank  you,  thank  you.'1  Pat 
stepping  back,  and  standing  some  inches  above  his  usual 
height,  exclaimed ;  "And  faith,  you're  the  boy  under  whom 
I  would  like  to  fight!  "— £  C.  Paper. 


Charge  of  the  Mississippians  at  Buena  Vista. 
When  a  portion  of  the  troops,  panic  struck,  were  fleeing 
before  the  shot  of  the  enemy,  at  Buena  Vista,  the  Mississip 
pians  were  ordered  to  advance.  Scarcely  three  hundred  in 
number,  with  their  rifles  without  bayonets,  they  advanced  to 
the  charge  against  a  superior  force,  outnumbering  them  so 
far  that  they  might  be  regarded  almost  as  a  forlorn  hope. 
Steadily  and  unwaveringly  they  pressed  on,  loading  and 
firing  with  terrible  effect,  and  utterly  regardless  of  the  deadly 
fire  of  the  enemy,  which  was  creating  fearful  havoc  in  their 
own  ranks.  All  know  the  result  of  that  charge,  and  what 
effect  it  had  upon  the  enemy.  Of  this  small,  noble  band, 
no  less  than  ninety  odd  were  stretched  upon  that  bloody  field 
in  one  charge.  Such  a  charge  has  never  been  equalled  in 
modern  warfare.  Just  before  their  departure,  a  drizzly  un 
pleasant  rain  set  in,  in  the  midst  of  which  the  regiment,  under 
the  command  of  Capt.  Hooper,  marched  in  front  of  General 
Taylor's  tent  and  presented  arms.  The  General  was  in  his 
tent,  but  came  out  and  shook  hands  with  Capt.  H.,  and  then 
addressed  the  following  remarks  to  them  with  much  feeling : 
"  My  friends,  I  part  from  you  with  great  reluctance.  You 
are  about  returning  to  your  homes  and  your  families,  covered 
with  honors  scarcely  ever  equalled.  You  have  won  honor 


INCIDENT  AT  CERRO  GORDO.  83 

for  yourselves,  your  state  and  your  country,  and  I  can  only 
express  a  sincere  hope  for  your  health  and  future  happiness." 
He  then  shook  hands  with  the  officers,  and  as  the  regiment 
filed  off,  they  gave  three  hearty  cheers  for  the  brave  old  gen 
eral,  under  whom  they  have  won  such  green  and  unfading 
laurels. 


Incident  at  Cerro  Gordo. 

I  continued  attending  to  the  various  stages  of  the  amputa 
tion  in  the  midst  of  balls  and  the  cry  of  the  enemy,  and  at 
last  finished  an  operation  that  seemed  to  have  lasted  an  age. 
The  serenity  and  resignation  of  my  companions  in  this  crisis 
were  admirable,  and  is  above  description.  All  remained 
around  the  patient,  attending  to  that  part  of  the  operation 
which  fell  to  their  share,  in  the  midst  of  the  whistling  of  balls 
and  the  cries  of  death  ;  and  when  we  rose,  looking  to  heaven 
with  gratitude  for  our  salvation,  as  we  thought,  a  new  peril 
came  to  dismay  us.  A  number  of  volunteers  presented  them 
selves  in  front  of  our  entry,  and  seeing  our  uniform,  cried — 
"  Death  to  the  Mexican  officers,"  and  presented  their  guns 
to  our  breasts.  I  do  not  know  what  sentiment  inspired  me 
in  the  resolution  which  I  took,  but  I  rushed  to  the  muzzles 
of  their  rifles — and  showed  them  my  hand,  dripping  with 
blood,  and  holding  a  piece  of  the  mutilated  leg,  cried — "  Res 
pect  humanity  or  a  hospital  of  blood — we  are  surgeons." 
My  words  produced  a  magic  effect.  In  an  instant,  an  officer 
whose  name  I  have  since  learned  to  be  Pion,  stepped  between 
the  volunteers  and  ourselves,  raised  their  guns  with  his  sword, 
and  these  men,  animated  by  victory,  thirsting  to  avenge  the 
loss  of  their  general,  (General  Shields,)  mortally  wounded, 
as  I  have  since  learned,  became  from  that  moment  our  friends, 
our  protectors. — Letter  of  a  Mexican  Surgeon. 


84  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

Alexander  Kunze. 

In  the  same  part  of  the  field,  and  about  the  same  time  with 
Clay,  McKee  and  Hardin,  another  fell,  pierced  by  a  lance, 
whose  name  is  worthy  of  a  place  on  the  rolls  of  fame — Pri 
vate  Alexander  Kunze  of  Company  H,  2d  Regiment  of  Illi 
nois.  The  writer  was  honored  with  his  friendship,  and  had 
an  opportunity  of  knowing  him  well,  being  a  member  of  the 
same  company  and  his  tent  mate.  His  conduct  on  the  field 
was  most  soldierly,  cool,  calm,  deliberate  and  prompt  in  obey 
ing  orders.  His  courage  was  conspicuous,  even  in  the  mo 
ment  of  his  death,  when  he  refused  to  surrender.  Except  a 
brother  in  South  America,  he  left  no  relatives  on  this  conti 
nent.  His  widowed  mother  lives  in  Bueckeburg,  in  Hano 
ver,  near  his  native  city,  Hamburg.  He  recived  a  splendid 
education  at  the  universities  of  Jena  and  Goettingen.  He 
had  been  but  a  year  in  the  United  States,  when  he  joined  our 
regiment  at  Alton,  whither  he  had  come  to  volunteer  from 
Wisconsin.  His  motives  in  taking  this  step,  were,  that  he 
might  serve  the  country,  whose  constitution  he  respected  be 
fore  all  other  systems  of  government,  and  to  gratify  his  curi 
osity  in  a  new  mode  of  life,  by  seeing  Mexico  and  observing, 
as  he  did,  with  a  philosophic  eye,  the  character  of  her  people 
and  institutions.  The  writer  promised  himself  much  pleasure 
in  travelling  with  him  through  this  country.  He  was  twenty 
seven  years  of  age,  and  probably  the  most  learned  man  in 
the  army.  His  knowledge  of  philology  was  accurate  and 
profound.  Such  was  his  familiarity  with  the  Latin,  that  by 
one  day's  examination  of  a  Spanish  grammar,  he  was  able  to 
read  the  cognate  language  with  facility.  Many  pleasant  hours 
have  we  spent  together  in  rambling  over  the  mountains  and 
plains  of  Mexico,  while  he  filled  his  haversack  with  new  plants 
to  send  to  Germany,  and  which  his  knowledge  of  botany 
often  enabled  him  to  class  in  the  several  genera  and  species. 
A  better  and  a  braver  heart  than  his  never  beat  its  last  upon 
a  field  of  battle. — Letter  from  a  Private. 


EXECUTION    OF    DESERTERS.  85 

Execution  of  Deserters. 

On  the  morning  of  the  9th  September,  was  hung  at  San 
Angel,  sixteen  deserters  from  the  American  army,  who  had 
taken  up  arms  against  their  government.*  Immediately 
after  some  ten  or  twelve  were  whipped,  and  branded  on  the 
cheek  with  the  letter  D.  Riley,  the  chief  of  the  San 
Patricio  crowd,  came  in  for  a  share  of  the  whipping  and 
branding  ;  and  right  well  was  the  former  laid  on  by  a  Mexi 
can  muleteer,  Gen.  Twiggs  deeming  it  too  much  honor  to 
the  major  to  be  flogged  by  an  American  soldier.  He  did 
not  bear  the  operation  with  that  stoicism  expected. 

The  next  morning  four  others  of  the  same  company  were 
executed  at  Mixcoaca,  and  on  the  13th  thirty  more  were 
hung  upon  one  gallows  at  the  same  place.  The  thirty  were 
brought  out  for  execution  about  the  same  time  that  Chapul- 
tepec  was  being  stormed  ;  and  Col.  Harney,  pointing  to 
that  place,  told  them  that  they  should  live  long  enough  to 
see  the  American  flag  hoisted  upon  the  battlements  of  that 
fortress,  and  no  longer.  In  a  few  moments  our  colors  were 
raised,  and  after  it  was  shown  to  them  they  were  launched 
into  elernity. 

The  clergy  at  San  Angel  plead  hard  to  save  the  lives  of 
these  men,  but  it  was  in  vain.  Gen.  Twiggs  told  them 
that  to  Ampudia,  Arista  and  Santa  Anna  did  these  men  owe 
their  deaths  ;  for  they  had  stooped  to  the  low  business  of 
solicitating  desertion  from  our  ranks,  and  had  succeeded  in 
seducing  from  duty  and  allegiance  the  poor  wretches  who 
had  to  pay  so  dearly  for  their  crimes. 

According  to  our  military  laws,  Riley  could  not  be  hung, 
he  having  deserted  from  the  army  before  the  commencement 
of  hostilities,  but  all  that  could  be  awarded  him  was  welfl 
administered. 

*  These  formed  a  part  of  trie  "  Legion  of  St.  Patrick,"  which  was  composed 
of  deserters  from  the  American  army,  chiefly  Irish,  having  been  tempted  by 
the  bribes  held  out  by  Santa  Anna  to  fight  against  their  country. 

i*''  8 


86  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

Appearance  of  Gen.  Taylor. 

Winding  down  a  hill,  our  column  was  halted  to  let  a 
troop  of  horse  pass.  Do  you  see  at  their  head  a  plain  look 
ing  gentleman,  mounted  upon  a  brown  horse,  having  upon 
his  head  a  Mexican  sombrero,  dressed  in  a  brown  olive 
colored  loose  frock  coat,  grey  pants,  wool  socks,  and  shoes? 
From  under  the  frock  appears  the  scabbard  of  a  sword  ;  he 
has  the  eye  of  an  eagle,  and  every  lineament  of  his  counte 
nance  is  expressive  of  honesty,  and  a  calm,  determined 
mind.  Reader,  do  you  know  who  this  plain  looking  gentle 
man  is  ?  No?  It  is  Major  General  Zachary  Taylor,  who 
with  his  military  family,  and  a  squadron  of  dragoons  as  an 
escort,  is  on  his  way  to  Victoria.  He  never  has  around  him 
any  of  the  *  pomp  and  circumstance  of  glorious  war,'  but 
when  victory  hangs  upon  a  thread,  when  even  the  bravest 
dread  the  galling  fire,  you  will  find  foremost  among  them  all 
that  brave  and  gallant  general,  whose  presence  alone  ensures 
a  victory. — Letter  from  an  officer. 


Bob  Walker. 

While  crossing  the  plains  to  Santa  Fe,  General  Kearny 
was  some  distance  ahead  with  the  advance  guard.  One  of 
the  officers  belonging  to  the  rear  division  singled  Bob  out 
and  sent  him  ahead  with  a  letter  to  the  general.  When  he 
came  up  with  them  he  found  them  encamped,  and  Bob 
sauntered  up  to  the  general's  marque. 

"  We're  gettin'  along  right  sharp,  general,"  said  he. 

"Yes,  Sir!  "  answered  the  commander. 

"  I  wish  you'd  jest  look  at  that  horse  of  mine,  general," 
said  Bob,  "  and  give  me  your  'pinion  how  he'll  stand  the 
racket  clar  through  to  whar  we're  goin'." 

"  Have  you  a  captain  at  the  head  of  your  company  ?  " 
inquired  the  general. 


A    NOBLE    RECRUIT.  87 

"  Well,  we  hev,  boss,  and  he's  some  punkins,  too,"  an 
swered  Bob. 

"  Whenever  you  wish  to  learn  anything  in  regard  to  your 
movements,"  said  the  general,  "  inquire]  of  him." 

"  That's  military,  is  it?  "  inquired  Bob. 

"  That's  military,  Sir,"  answered  the  general.. 

"  Well,  general,  they  gin  me  a  letter  for  you,  but  cuss 
me,  if  I  know  whether  I  oughter  gin  it  you  in  pusson  or 
send  it  through  your  orderly,  and  so  I'll  go  back  and  ask 
the  captain  !  " 

And  back  he  went,  sure  enough,  with  *the  letter  in  his 
possession,  to  the  great  annoyance  of  General  Kearny. 

. 


A  noble  Recruit.  * 

In  1846,  the  Baron  Van  Winckle,  a  captain  of  artillery 
in  the  service  of  the  king  of  Saxony,  arrived  in  this  country, 
in  the  ship  Barens,  Capt.  Flores,  from  Hamburg ;  he  was 
an  accomplished  officer  and  gentleman.  At  the  time  of  the 
Ronge  riots  in  Leipsic,  he  was  in  command  of  the  citadel, 
and  was  instructed  to  summon  the  Rongites  to  disperse,  and 
if  they  declined  doing  so,  he  was  ordered  to  fire  upon  them. 
They  refused  to  abide  by  his  summons,  when  he  fired,  and 
some  two  hundred  defenceless  people  were  killed.  For  this 
act  of  obedience  he  was  censured  by  many  people,  and  by 
some  of  his  associate  officers  was  insulted.  For  these  in 
sults  he  sought  redress :  challenged  several  of  his  compan 
ions  in  arms  to  mortal  combat,  and  killed  two  of  them. 
Finding  himself  in  an  unfavorable  position,  and  acting  in 
accordance  with  the  advice  of  the  Minister  of  War,  he  took 
shipping  for  the  United  States,  and  with  the  intention  of 
remaining  here  till  the  excitement  at  Leipsic  growing  out  of 
the  Ronge  riots  should  subside.  He  arrived  here  in  March, 
was  unhappy  and  discontented,  because  of  the  absence  of 


88  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

active  life,  and  had  resolved  to  migrate  to  the  copper  mines 
of  Lake  Superior.  While  waiting,  the  war  with  Mexico 
broke  out.  He  immediately  proceeded  to  a  rendezvous, 
enlisted  in  the  army  as  a  private,  was  despatched  forthwith 
to  Texas,  and  at  the  battle  of  Palo  Alto  was  the  first  man 
killed  in  the  gallant  charge  made  on  the  enemy.  He  had 
many  influential  friends  in  the  Eastern  cities,  but  he  sought 
no  other  station  in  our  army  than  that  of  a  private  soldier. 


How  they  died  in  Battle. 

The  following  incidents  were  related  by  General  Pierce, 
at  a  reception  dinner  given  him  by  the  citizens  of  Concord, 
New  Hampshire,  upon  his  return  from  the  Seat  of  War : — 
There  was  Sergeant  Stowell,  who  was  shot  through  the 
heart  at  Churubusco.  As  his  last  breath  flowed,  he  whis 
pered  to  me,  "  Do  the  boys  say  I  behaved  well  ?  If  they 
do,  write  home  to  my  people." 

Then,  there  was  Sergeant  Pike,  who  had  his  leg  shot  off 
while  advancing  alone  on  a  causeway  swept  by  three  batteries. 
Two  amputations,  which  did  not  answer  the  purpose,  were 
performed,  and  a  third  was  deemed  hopeless.  Die  he  must, 
it  was  thought.  "  I  know  better  than  they  do,"  said  he, 
"I'll  try  another,  and  when  they  cut  it  again  I  hope  they  will 
cut  it  so  that  it  will  stay  cut."  A  third  amputation  was 
performed,  and  he  lived  through  it.  He,  with  several 
others  in  the  same  regiment,  were  printers.  In  the  new 
levies  the  printers  exceed  by  twenty  per  cent,  those  of  any 
other  vocation ;  and,  on  account  of  their  intelligence  and 
high  spirit,  have  proved  the  most  efficient  soldiers  in  the  field. 

Another  cause  of  the  success  of  our  troops,  new  and  old, 
was  the  conduct  of  our  officers  ;  who,  from  the  highest  to 
the  lowest,  led  and  cheered  on  their  columns.  Hence  the 
disproportion  in  the  loss  of  officers  and  men.  Hence  the  loss 


THE    LATE    LEVI    GANTT.  89 

of  that  brave  and  accomplished  officer,  Col.  Ransom.  He 
kept  pressing  up,  pressing  up,  till  he  was  shot  dead  at  the 
head  of  his  column.  The  same  was  true  of  Col.  Martin 
Scott,  the  best  marksman  in  the  army- — a  son  of  New  Hamp 
shire.  He  raised  himself  above  the  protection  of  a  wall — 
a  brother  officer  begged  him  not  to  expose  himself  unneces 
sarily, — he  replied,  "  Martin  Scott  has  never  yet  stooped." 
The  next  moment  a  shot  passed  through  his  heart.  He  fell 
upon  his  back,  deliberately  placed  his  cap  upon  his  breast, 
and  died.  Col.  Graham,  after  receiving  six  severe  wounds, 
continued  at  the  head  of  his  men,  and  upon  receiving  a 
seventh,  slowly  dropped  from  his  horse,  and  as  he  fell  upon 
the  ground,  said,  "  Forward,  my  men  !  My  word  is  always 
Forward  !  "  And  so  saying  he  died. 


The  late  Levi  Gantt. 

Among  those  who  have  cause  to  mourn  over  the  losses  of 
our  army  in  Mexico  are  the  relations  and  friends  of  the  late 
Lieut.  Levi  Gantt,  who  was  killed  in  the  attack  of  the  castle 
of  Chapultepec.  This  young  officer,  a  graduate  of  West 
Point,  took  part  in  every  battle  fought  during  the  present 
war  by  Generals  Scott  and  Taylor,  excepting  that  of  Buena 
Vista,  and  in  each  won  the  approbation  of  his  superiors,  and 
the  admiration  of  his  equals  in  rank,  by  his  gallantry  and 
daring.  At  Monterey  he  volunteered,  with  thirty  men  to 
make  a  diversion  on  the  side  of  one  of  the  fortified  hills,  near 
the  Bishop's  Palace,  opposite  to  that  on  which  the  real  at 
tack  was  to  be  made.  So. great  was  his  thirst  for  distinction 
that  nothing  but  the  positive  orders  of  his  commanding  offi 
cer  prevented  him  from  converting  the  feigned  into  a  real 
attack.  While  clambering  up  the  steep  ascent  a  cannon  ball 
fired  at  his  party  came  within  a  foot  of  his  head,  and  covered 
his  face  with  sand  and  gravel.  He  was  among  the  first  to 


90  ANECDOTES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

enter  the  Mexican  fortifications  on  the  summit  of  Cerro  Gor- 
do.  It  is  believed  that  the  only  officer  in  advance  of  him 
was  his  cousin,  Lieut.  Thomas  Ewell  of  the  Rifle  regiment, 
who  died  on  the  field  the  next  day  from  the  effects  of  a 
wound.  For  his  bravery  in  this  action  Lieut.  Gantt,  was 
recommended  to  be  brevetted.  The  storming  party  at  Cha- 
pultepec  was  made  up  of  volunteers  from  the  different  corps 
and  regiments  of  the  army.  Lieut.  Gantt  was  a  volunteer 
from  his  own  gallant  regiment,  the  7th  Infantry.  In  march 
ing  to  the  attack,  and  while  under  shelter  from  the  enemy's 
fire,  Lieutenant  Gantt  stepped  out  to  discover  whether  an  ap 
proaching  party  were  friends  or  foes,  when  he  was  struck  in 
the  middle  of  his  breast  by  a  musket  ball,  and  expired  in  a 
few  minutes.  He  was  buried  the  next  day  in  the  church 
yard  at  Tacubaya.  He  died  a  brave  soldier  and  an  upright 
man. 


"Crowd  'em." 

The  following  good  story  is  told  of  Bob  Walker,  one  of 
Doniphan's  battalion,  the  advanced  guard  that  opened  com 
munication  with  Gen.  Wool's  column  at  Buena  Vista.  Gen. 
Wool,  among  other  things,  remarked  to  Bob  that  that  was 
quite  a  brisk  little  skirmish  they  had  at  Sacramento.  "Yes," 
said  Bob,  "  but  we  didn't  lose  any  of  our  cannon,  if  it  was 
a.  skirmish!"  "That's  right,  my  man,"  said  Gen.  Wool, 
seeing  that  the  Missourian  was  a  little  huffed,  "  that's  right., 
never  allow  any  one  to  underrate  your  victory — you  fought 
against  great  odds,  and  a  greater  disadvantage,  than  the 
enemy  have  been  met  during  the  war,  and  more  successfully, 
too." 

Bob,  emboldened  by  this  flattering  speech,  remarked  with 
much  sang  froid,  "  I  don't  think  you  fight  'em  right  down 
here,  no  how,  General."  " Why  not?"  said  Wool,  smiling, 


INHUMAN    MASSACRE.  91 

4<  how  do  you  fight  them  ?"  "Why,  d — n  it  all,  you  don't 
crowd  'em  enough" — said  Bob — "  By  G — d,  we've  tried 
'em  two  or  three  times  now,  and  we've  always  found  it  best 
to  crowd  'em  from  the  jump  !  " 


Inhuman  Massacre. 

Occasional  murders  of  our  men  have  been  perpetrated 
ever  since  we  have  been  in  the  country — all  killed  by  the 
lasso.  The  Arkansas  regiment  of  horse,  from  their  having 
b£en  employed  as  scouts  and  occupying  the  outposts,  have 
been  particularly  exposed  to  this  guerrilla  warfare,  and  have 
lost  four  or  five  of  their  men.  The  day  before  yesterday 
it  was  reported  that  one  of  their  number  had  been  killed  by 
the  Mexicans,  as  he  had  been  missing  from  the  camp  since 
the  day  before,  when  he  went  out  to  look  for  his  horse. 
Search  was  made  for  the  body,  and  it  was  found  about  a 
mile  from  our  camp,  with  a  lasso  around  the  neck,  tied  to  a 
prickly  pear,  having  been  draged  some  three  hundred  yards 
upon  the  face  through  the  chaparral.  It  presented  a  horrible 
sight !  The  name  of  the  young  man  was  Colquitt,  a  nephew 
of  the  senator. 

The  Arkansas  men  vowed  vengeance  deep  and  sure. 
Yesterday  morning,  a  number  of  them,  some  thirty  perhaps, 
went  out  to  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  two  miles  off,  to  an 
arroyo  which  is  washed  in  the  sides  of  the  mountain,  to 
which  the  *  pisanos '  of  Agua  Nueva  had  fled  upon  our  ap 
proach,  and  soon  commenced  an  indiscriminate  and  bloody 
massacre  of  the  poor  creatures  who  had  just  fled  to  the 
mountains  and  fastness  for  security.  A  number  of  our  reg 
iment  being  out  of  camp,  I  proposed  to  Colonel  Bissell  to 
mount  our  horses  and  proceed  to  the  scene  of  carnage,  where 
I  knew,  from  the  dark  insinuations  of  the  night  before,  that 
blood  was  running  freely.  We  hastened  out  as  rapidly  as 


92  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

possible,  but  owing  to  the  thick  chaparrals  the  work  of  death 
was  over  before  we  reached  the  horrible  scene,  and  its  per 
petrators  were  returning  to  camp  glutted  with  revenge. 

God  knows  how  many  of  the  unarmed  peasantry  have 
been  sacrificed  to  atone  for  the  death  of  poor  Colquitt. 
The  Arkansas  regiment  say  not  less  than  thirty  have  been 
killed.  I  think,  however  that  twenty  of  them  have  been 
sent  to  their  eternal  rest. — Letter  from  an  officer. 


Incident  related  by  Gen.  Shields. 

I  will  state  one  thing  that  was  very  singular  at  the  battle  of 
Buena  Vista,  though  I  was  not  there.  It  has  been  stated  by 
the  best  military  men  that  no  man  but  General  Tavlor  would 
have  fought  after  his  flank  and  rear  had  been  turned,  for,  ac 
cording  to  the  best  military  writers,  he  had  then  only  to  re 
treat  or  to  surrender.  But  he  disregarded  science,  and  fought 
and  defeated  them.  At  the  battle  of  Churubusco,  I  happened 
to  be  placed  in  very  nearly  a  similar  position.  On  my  front 
was  a  line  three  times  the  length  of  my  own  ;  there  was  a 
line  on  each  flank,  and  the  Mexican  cavalry  in  my  rear. 
Books  and  military  science  lay  down  rules  for  extricating 
troops  in  difficulties  ;  but  I  never  thought  of  extricating  my 
self  in  any  other  way  than  by  breaking  through  their  centre. 
And  on  that  occasion,  after  seeing  myself  surrounded  by 
what  I  said  in  my  report  was  three  or  four  times,  but  which 
I  afterwards  found  was  ten  times  greater  than  my  command,  I 
determined  to  break  through  their  centre.  I  rode  along  the 
column,  and  I  stated  that  the  only  way  to  extricate  ourselves 
was  to  break  their  centre,  and  that  I  should  lead  the  charge 
myself,  and  I  called  on  the  whole  command  to  follow  me. 
A  Colonel  in  that  command,  now  no  more,  (Colonel  Butler,) 
stepped  in  front  of  his  regiment,  raised  his  cap,  and  said, 
"  General  Shields,  every  South  Carolinian  will  follow  you 


CAPTAIN    BURGWIN.  93 

to  death."  The  cry  was  responded  to  by  every  Carolinian  ; 
the  New  Yorkers  responded  to  that  cry ;  the  residue  of  my 
command  followed  ;  I  wheeled  them  into  line,  rushed  on  the 
enemy,  and  routed  and  broke  them." 




Captain  Burgwin. 

Captain  Burgwin,  of  the  Dragoons,  who  fell  at  Taos,  was 
a  native  of  North  Carolina  ;  he  graduated  at  West  Point  in 
1830,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  high  upon  the  list  of 
Captains.  He  was  one  of  the  most  popular  officers  in  the 
army,  from  his  high  toned  gentlemanly  character.  His  con 
duct  and  courage  in  the  late  battles  are  the  theme  of  univer 
sal  praise.  After  being  wounded,  Col.  Price  rode  up  to 
him,  and  told  him  that  whether  he  recovered  or  not  he 
would  bear  testimony  to  his  gallantry.  Captain  B.  replied 
"  I  hope,  Colonel,  that  you  will  also  bear  witness  that  my 
company  did  its  duty." 

. 


Horrors  of  War. 

The  bombardment  (Vera  Cruz,)  was  perfectly  terrific  for 
three  days  and  night.  Such  a  sight  I  hope  never  to  see 
again.  It  was  sublime  and  awful !  When  our  shells  fell 
you  could  hear  the  crash  two  miles  off.  Day  before  yester 
day,  having  nothing  to  do  in  the  trenches,  I  went  up  on  the 
sandhills  in  front  of  our  camp.  Our  battery  of  six  24- 
pounders,  a  navy  battery  of  six  32-pounders,  and  fourteen 
10-inch  mortars,  were  in  full  operation,  while  the  enemy 
were  returning  the  fire  with  nearly  an  equal  number.  The 
day  was  magnificent — the  sky  perfectly  clear,  the  air  fresh 
and  balmy.  Before  me  lay  the  beautiful  but  doomed  city. 
The  firing  was  incessant — the  blaze  one  continuous  sheet  of 


94  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

flame,  as  if  two  volcanoes  were  belching  forth  red-hot  lava 
at  each  other,  while  the  smoke  gathered  into  a  funeral  pall 
over  the  devoted  town. 

I  looked  on  for  some  time,  but  the  sight  made  me  sick, 
and  I  returned  to  my  tent.  The  reflection  came  over  me, 
"  What  a  horrid  trade  is  war ! — what  a  dreadful  spectacle 
to  see  man  thus  marring  the  work  of  God,  and  turning  into 
a  pandemonium  that  which  seemed  a  few  moments  before  as 
lovely  as  a  paradise  !  "  When  shells  and  rockets  were 
bursting  around  me,  I  had  no  such  feelings,  for  I  was  then 
in  hot  blood  ;  but  looking  cooly  on,  and  out  of  the  way- of 
danger,  it  semmed  to  me  truly  awful ! — Letter  from  an  officer. 

I  went  over  the  battle-field  (Buena  Vista,)  after  the  fight, 
and  of  all  the  shocking  and  most  horrible  sights  I  ever  wit 
nessed  this  exceeded.  Hundreds  of  dead,  wounded  and 
dying — some  with  their  heads,  arms,  and  legs  off,  and  some 
torn  literally  to  pieces  by  shell  and  shot.  I  never  wish  to 
witness  such  a  horrid  and  awful  spectacle  again.  You 
could  see  the  mark  of  a  cannon  ball  through  a  regiment, 
leaving  a  column  of  dead  showing  the  trace  of  the  shot. 
— Letter  from  an  officer. 


Not  too  good  to  be  looked  at. 

A.  few  days  since,  one  of  the  cleverest  members  of  the 
medical  staff  was  in  conversation  with  a  friend  in  the  Grand 
Plaza,  when  he  was  interrupted  by  the  approach  of  one  of 
the  newly  arrived  volunteers,  who  stopped  short  and 
looked  him  straight  in  the  face,  apparently  as  though  (and 
this  was  probably  the  case)  he  thought  he  recognized  him. 
As  the  man  continued  his  fixed  stare,  without  speaking,  the 
doctor  turned  to  him  and  asked — 

"  Do  you  want  any  thing  ?" 


LIEUT.    COL.    GRAHAM.  95 

The  man  looked  steadily  for  a  moment,  and  answered, 
"  No." 

The  doctor  continued  the  conversation  with  his  friend,  but 
in  a  little  time  noticed  that  the  man  had  passed  round  him, 
and  was  taking  another  look — probably  still  unsatisfied  as  to 
whether  he  knew  him  or  not. 

"  Do  you  want  any  thing  ?"  inquired  he  again  with  em 
phasis. 

"  No,"  was  the  response  of  the  imperturbable  volunteer. 

"  Well,  do  you  know  me?" 

"No." 

"  Well,  why  the  devil  don't  you  pass  on?" 

The  volunteer  without  relinquishing  his  stare,  answered, 
after  a  moment — 

*'  Why,  you  aint  too  good  to  be  looked  at,  are  ye?"  and 
sauntered  on  without  moving  a  muscle  of  his  face, 
aat.- 


Lieut.  Col.  Graham. 

Among  the  officers  who  it  appears  were  lost  to  their  coun 
try  in  the  assault  upon  the  city  of  Mexico,  was  the  gallant 
Lieut.  Colonel  William  Montrose  Graham,  of  the  llth  reg 
iment  U.  S.  Infan.try.  Colonel  Graham  was  about  47  years 
of  age,  and  was  a  brave  soldier.  He  entered  at  the  West 
Point  military  academy  in  1813,  and  graduated  in  1817,  as 
3d  Lieutenant  of  Artillery.  Another  brother,  James  D. 
Graham,  of  the  Topographical  Engineers,  one  of'  the  most 
scientific,  accomplished  and  valuable  officers  in  the  service, 
entered  and  graduated  the  same  year.  They  were  the  sons 
of  Dr.  Wm.  Graham,  of  Prince  William  county,  Virginia, 
who  served,  as  did  others  of  the  family,  with  distinction,  as 
officers  in  the  revolutionary  struggle.  Colonel  Graham, 
whose  fall  we  are  now  noticing,  was,  soon  after  he  graduated 
at  West  Point,  selected  by  his  commander  General  Jackson, 


96  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

to  perform  some  arduous  and  responsible  duties,  among  the 
southwestern  Indians,  which  he  did  so  satisfactorily,  that  he 
was  highly  complimented  by  the  General.  Having  been 
transferred  to  the  4th  regiment  of  Infantry,  under  Colonel 
Clinch,  which  was  in  Florida,  he  joined  it,  and  was  placed 
in  command  of  Fort  King,  for  a  long  time  in  the  very  heart 
of  the  troublesome  Miccosakies.  The  writer  of  this  notice 
knew  him  well  during  that  period,  and  can  bear  full  testimony 
to  his  possession  of  all  the  qualities  that  ennoble  a  gentleman 
and  a  soldier.  He  was  in  Florida,  in  1S35,  when  the  Sem- 
inole  war  broke  out,  and  bore  the  brunt  of  the  first  battle, 
at  the  Withlacoochee,  where  his  gallant  and  final  charge 
upon  the  Indians  with  the  bayonet,  dispersed  the  savages, 
and  aided  greatly  in  securing  the  victory.  Governor  Clinch, 
in  his  official  report,  spoke  in  the  highest  terms  of  the  con 
duct  of  Colonel,  then  Captain  Graham.  He  fell  in  that 
charge  with  two  severe  wounds  from  the  Indian  rifles,  (one 
received  early  in  the  fight,)  and  his  brother,  Lieutenant 
Campbell  Graham,  of  the  artillery,  (now  Cap.  of  Top.  Engs.) 
also  received  at  the  same  time  two  severe  wounds,  at  first 
believed  to  be  mortal,  but  from  which  he  recovered  after  a 
long  time.  Throughout  the  whole  of  the  Florida  war  *  the 
Grahams'  were  distinguished  for  their  intrepidity  and  sol 
dierly  conduct.  Col.  G.  was  in  every  battle  on  the  Penin 
sula  of  much  note,  and  at  Okechubee  he  gallantly  led  one 
wing  of  his  regiment,  and  was  complimented  in  the  des 
patches  of  his  Colonel.  His  brother,  Brevet  Major  Law 
rence  Pike  Graham,  of  the  2d  dragoons,  also  served  in 
Florida  with  great  credit,  as  a  young  lieutenant  in  Twiggs' 
regiment,  and  was  severely  wounded  in  1840,  while  scout 
ing  in  the  night,  being  fired  upon  by  a  party  of  militia  by  mis 
take.  He  is  the  same  officer  who  was  brevetted  by  the  Pre 
sident  and  Senate  a  major  for  the  gallant  charge  at  Resaca 
de  la  Palma,  with  May,  Inge,  and  others  of  the  dragoons. 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Graham  was  distinguished  at  Palo  Alto 


ANECDOTE    OF    GEN.    TAYLOR.  97 

and  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  where  he  was  with  the  4th  regiment 
of  infantry,  to  which  he  then  belonged.  At  Monterey  he 
was  selected  by  General  Taylor  to  lead  his  regiment  to  the 
assault,  and  it  was  for  his  daring  and  chivalrous  gallantry  on 
those  occasions,  and  especially  that  so  signally  displayed  at 
Monterey,  that  he  was  selected  as  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the 
llth,  one  of  the  new  regiments,  by  the  President  and  Sen 
ate.  He  was  not  at  Buena  Vista,  having  been  ordered  to 
join  General  Scott ;  but  at  Vera  Cruz,  Ctiiro  Gordo,  Con- 
treras  and  Churubusco,  he  bore  a  prominent  part  in  the 
conflicts,  and  won  his  share  of  the  glory  of  those  brilliant 
achievements.  And  he  fell  as  became  a  brave  American 
soldier. — Eastern  paper. 


Anecdote  of  Gen.  Taylor, 

A  great  many  anecdotes  have  been  related  of  General 
Taylor's  remarkable  coolness  and  sagacity  on  the  field  of 
battle ;  but  the  following  is  more  than  twenty-four  hours  in 
advance  of  its  cotemporaries. — The  general  is  in  the  habit  of 
riding  with  very  short  stirrups.  Well,  in  the  heat  of  the  bat 
tle  at  Buena  Vista,  the  old  veteran  saw  a  cannon  ball  making 
toward  him,  from  one  of  the  Mexican  batteries,  with  terrific 
speed.  Rough  aud  Ready  eyed  it  for  a  moment  with  great 
interest,  during  which  time  he  ascertained,  with  mathematical 
precision,  the.  exact  spot  it  would  hit  him  if  he  remained 
still.  But  at  the  same  time  he  satisfied  himself  that  with  a 
little  finesse,  he  could  avoid  the  danger.  So,  waiting  with 
great  patience  until  the  ball  was  about  to  strike  him,  he  del 
iberately  raised  himself  in  his  stirrups,  and  the  ball  passed 
between  him  and  his  saddle,  leaving  him  quite  unharmed  ! 
This  the  Doctor  saw  with  his  own  eyes,  and  therefore  there 
can  be  no  doubt  of  its  truth. 


98  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

\ 

Lieut.  Burbank. 

This  young  and  gallant  officer  belonged  to  the  8th  regiment 
of  infantry,  "  Worth's  Own,"  and  was  engaged  with  his 
comrades  in  tne  desperate  attack  upon  the  Molino  del  Rey. 
Precisely  how  he  was  wounded,  we  are  not  yet  advised ;  but 
it  appears  certain  that  he  survived  his  mortal  injuries  until  the 
subsequent  day.  Lieut.  Burbank  was  a  graduate  from  West 
Point,  and  entered  the  army  immediately  after  his  probation 
at  that  institution  was  at  an  end.  He  was  stationed  for  some 
time  in  Florida,  and  accompanied  his  brave  associates  when 
they  were  ordered  to  Corpus  Christi.  At  the  fiercely  con 
tested  battle  of  La  Palma,  Lieut.  Burbank  was  wounded  in 
the  right  arm,  so  as  to  be  effectually  disabled.  In  conse 
quence  of  this  casuality  he  received  a  furlough,  and  was 
assigned  to  to  the  recruiting  service.  His  friends  were  priv 
ileged  to  meet  him  then  for  the  last  time.  For,  in  the  urgent 
necessity  for  reinforcements  to  save  the  army  of  Gen.  Scott 
from  repulse,  officers  and  recruits  were  hastily  summoned 
from  their  respective  rendezvous,  and  despatched  to  Vera 
Cruz.  And  so,  after  passing  through  the  early  perils  and 
hardships  of  the  war,  he  has  fallen  in  full  view  of  that  gor 
geous  capital,  which  he  was  not  destined  to  enter.  He  was 
one  of  the  many  who  poured  out  their  life-blood  upon  that 
congenial  plain,  yet,  among  them  all,  was  none  whose  fame 
will  be  more  carefully  cherished  by  the  admirers  of  brave  and 
chivalrous  demeanor. 


Anecdote  of  General  Smith. 

At  a  dinner  given  to  Generals  Shields  and  .Quitman  the 
latter  related  the  following  anecdote  of  General  P.  F.  Smith. 
"  After  the  final  charge  on  the  garita,  believing  it  to  be  my 
duty  to  be  in  the  advance  on  that  occasion,  for  the  purpose 
of  determining  on  future  movements,  I  heard  a  very  mild 


GENERAL    QUITMAN.  ,        99 

voice  addressing  me.  I  looked,  and  amongst  the  many  gal 
lant  soldiers  there  assembled,  I  saw  the  person  of  General 
Smith,  his  mild  but  noble  face  exhibiting  great  composure, 
in  contrast  with  the  scene  through  which  he  had  passed.  He 
stood  with  his  watch  in  his  hand  and  said — '  General,  there 
have  been  many  disputes  about  time  before,  let  it  be  re 
membered  that  we  enter  the  garita  at  twenty  minutes  past 
one!" 

- 


General  Quilman. 

It  is  right  to  give  publicity  to  an  incident  in  the  storming  of 
the  city  of  Mexico,  which  illustrates  the  bravery  and  patriotic 
enthusiasm  of  this  officer,  but  which  his  modesty  had  sup 
pressed  from  the  knowledge  of  the  country.  The  following 
is  an  extract  from  the  gallant  leader  of  the  mounted  rifle  regi 
ment,  (Major  Loring)  who  fell  at  the  head  of  his  regiment  on 
the  eve  of  entering  the  city  of  Mexico,  by  a  wound  which 
deprived  him  of  one  of  his  arms.  The  extract  is  an  eloquent 
tribute  from  a  gallant  soldier  to  the  bravery  of  his  distinguished 
commander.  The  letter  was  addressed  to  a  friend  in  private 
correspondence  : 

"  General  Quitman  was  at  the  head  ofrny  regiment  at  the 
time  I  was  shot.  We  were  the  nearest  American  soldiers  to 
the  city  of  Mexico  and  their  army  at  the  time  I  was  wounded. 
After  I  fell,  he  armed  himself  with  one  of  my  rifles,  joined 
the  rifles  in  their  attack  upon  the  Garita  de  Belen,  fired  his 
last  cartridge,  then  tied  his  handkerchief  to  its  muzzle,  and 
waved  his  gallant  soldiers  over  the  breastwork— being  the 
first  to  mount  amid  the  terrible  carnage  that  followed.  I'll 
venture  to  say  there  are  few  instances  in  history  where  one 
so  high  in  rank,  and  advanced  in  life,  has  thus  had,  and 
availed  himself  of  the  brilliant  opportunity  of  wreathing 
around  his  brow  so  distinct  a  title  to  the  honor  of  being  re 
garded  as  the  '  bravest  of  the  brave.'  ' 


100  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

Characteristic. 

The  following  anecdote  of  Gen.  Taylor,  is  related  by  one 
who  was  present.  It  is  characteristic  of"  Rough  and  Ready." 
When  Gen.  Taylor  arrived  at  the  Brasos,  there  was  but  one 
boat  ready  to  start  for  New  Orleans.  Gen.  Taylor  inquired 
if  he  could  get  a  passage  for  himself  and  suite.  He  was  an 
swered  that  there  was  room  plenty  for  all  who  desired  to  go 
over  in  her ;  but  that  as  it  was  an  old  boat,  there  was  some 
danger  of  her  blowing  up  ;  and  that  he,  General  Taylor  had 
better  delay  for  a  day  or  two  for  a  better  and  a  surer  boat. 
To  this  the  old  white  horse  of  Palo  Alto  replied  :  "  Let 
her  blow  up  !  Put  my  baggage  on  board  !  and  let  her  blow 
up,  if  she  wants  to  !" 


Jarauta,  the  Guerilla. 

Father  Jarauta,  the  famous  Guerilla  chief,  whose  frequent 
depredations  upon  American  trains  passing  between  Vera 
Cruz  and  the  capital,  has  raised  him  to  an  unenviable  noto 
riety,  barely  escaped  being  captured  by  Colonel  Hays,  at 
Teothuacan.  some  twelve  leagues  to  the  northeast  of  the  city 
of  Mexico,  on  the  12th  of  January,  last 

Colonel  Hays  with  about  one  hundred  Rangers  and  a  few 
of  the  Illinois  volunteers,  reached  that  place  in  pursuit  of  the 
padre.  Whilst  his  men  were  reposing  themselves  at  a  haci 
enda,  their  horses  all  unbridled  and  unsaddled,  Jarauta  came 
suddenly  upon  them  with  a  party  of  Mexicans.  A  sharp  and 
severe  contest  for  some  minutes  ensued.  About  one  hundred 
and  fifty  shots  were  fired  by  the  rangers,  and  a  hundred  by 
the  Mexicans — the  balls  of  the  latter  all  going  over  and  not 
taking  effect.  Eight  Mexicans  were  killed,  and  not  #n  Am 
erican  was  killed  or  wounded.  Father  Jarauta  fled  on  his 
horse,  having  received  several  wounds.  When  last  seen  he 
was  reeling  in  his  saddle,  and  in  a  few  moments  afterwards 


EXECUTION    OF    MEXICAN    OFFICERS.  101 

his  horse  came  back,  saddled  and  bridled  and  the  blood 
running  down  his  side.  A  lieutenant  was  taken  prisoner, 
who  states  that  the  padre  was  severely  wounded.  It  was  a 
very  narrow  escape  for  him4  and,  if  living,  we  think  he  can 
not  hold  out  much  longer.  In  the  present  instance  had  not 
the  Rangers  been  "  caught  napping,"  their  horses  without 
bridles  or  saddles,  very  few  of  the  Mexicans  would  have 
escaped  to  tell  the  story. 


Execution  of  Mexican  Officers. 

Lieut.  Alcalde  and  Adj't.  Garcia,  had  violated  their  parole 
of  honor  :  having  been  taken  prisoners  by  the  American  army 
and  released  on  parole,  when  they  were  again  captured,  with 
arms  in  their  hands,  in  the  lines  of  the  enemy.  A  court  mar 
tial  wTas  convened,  and,  according  to  all  rules  of  civilised 
warfare,  they  were  condemned.  The  24th  of  November  was 
set  as  the  day  of  execution. 

The  sympathy  awakened  among  all  parties  for  the  unfor 
tunate  prisoners,  who  were  the  victims  of  a  perverted  custom, 
rather  than  a  natural  criminality,  was  so  great,  that  for  several 
days  before  the  execution,  the  Governor  of  Jalapa,  CoL 
Hughes,  was  besieged  by  petitions  for  a  mitigation  of  their 
punishment.  Women  and  men  thronged  to  the  Governor's 
quarters,  and  blended  tears  with  their  supplications  for  the 
condemned.  But  the  Governor  must  see  that  the  rules  of 
the  service  were  effectually  carried  out,  and  therefore  refused. 
How  strange  that  people  professing  to  be  free,  should  so  far 
demean  themselves  as  to  plead  for  those  who  have  basely 
forfeited  the  highest  pledges  of  honor !  Yet,  in  Mexico,  it 
is  considered  no  disgrace  to  violate  a  parole  of  honor  ;  and 
this  was  urged  in  defence  of  their  supplications  for  the  pris 
oners. 

9* 


102  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

At  twelve  o'clock  M.  the  escort  moved  to  the  plaza,  (se 
lected  as  the  place  of  execution,)  in  solemn  order.  The 
prisoners  marched  blind-folded  to  the  plaza,  accompanied  by 
a  priest,  and  a  friend  holding  them  by  an  arm.  They  were 
in  the  full  uniforms  of  their  respective  ranks.  They  were 
led  to  the  side  of  the  plaza  near  the  barracks,  and  seated  on 
their  coffins.  After  continuing  their  devotions  aloud  for  some 
time,  they  embraced  a  few  friends,  when  the  word  "fire!  " 
was  pronounced  ; — they  fell  back,  scarcely  moving  a  muscle. 
The  bodies  were  handed  over  to  their  friends,  and  were 
honored  with  an  appropriate  burial. 


A.  Brilliant  Exploit. 

It  appears  that  a  Mexican,  named  Luis  Salazar,  had  been 
suspected  of  conveying  an  express  from  Chihuahua  to  Santa 
Fe,  for  the  Mexican  authorities,  and  it  was  deemed  necessary 
to  arrest  him.  His  residence  was  ascertained  to  be  at  San 
Migual,  fifty-five  miles  northeast  of  Santa  Fe.  Sergeant 
Cable  was  charged  with  this  delicate  and  dangerous  mission, 
which  he  executed  with  admirable  presence  of  mind,  travers 
ing  one  hundred  and  twenty-six  miles,  as  he  says,  of  hostile 
country,  with  only  two  military  companions  and  a  Mexican 
guide.  The  man  was  arrested  at  his  father's  residence,  in 
the  midst  of  a  large  population,  who  appeared  to  be  so  sub 
dued  by  the  daring  of  the  young  American  Sergeant,  as  not 
to  offer  the  least  molestation  to  him  in  going  or  coming. 
Sergeant  Cable  was  handsomely  complimented  in  orders  by 
Col.  Easton,  on  his  arrival  at  Santa  Fe.  The  father  of  the 
man  thus  addressed  is  the  identical  captain  of  the  Mexican 
escort  that  conducted  the  Texan  prisoners  from  Santa  Fe  to 
Mexico,  some  years  ago,  among  whom  was  our  friend  and 
cotemporary,  Mr.  G.  W.  Kendall. — Southern  paper. 


•I 


CAPTAIN    ROBERTS.  103 

Capt.  Roberts. 

In  the  closing  operations  before  the  city  of  Mexico,  the 
name  of  this  officer  has  been  .prominently  placed  before  the 
public.  He  was  selected  by  Gen.  Smith  to  command  the 
storming  party  from  his  brigade,  and  led  125  picked  men 
and  officers  in  the  assault  upon  the  strongest  position  of  Cha- 
pultepec,  His  services  in  this  desperate  assault  were  so  dis 
tinguished,  that  Gen.  Quitman  in  his  report  says,  he  "selected 
Capt.  Roberts,  who  had  greatly  distinguished  himself  in  lea 
ding  the  advanced  storming  party  at  Chapultepec,  to  plant 
the  star-spangled  banner  of  our  country  on  the  National 
Palace.''  This  compliment  was  not  an  unmeaning  one,  and 
was  richly  earned  by  Capt.  Roberts.  The  honor  of  planting 
the  first  flag  of  our  country  on  the  national  palace  of  Mexico, 
and  of  having  been  the  first  American  officer  to  enter  the  halls 
of  the  Montezumas,  will  be  a  passport  for  life,  to  the  hearts 
and  gratitude  of  his  countrymen. 

Although  this  officer  has  been  prominent  in  every  battle 
fought  by  his  regiment,  and  selected  by  Gen.  Smith  for  every 
position  where  skill  and  courage  were  most  demanded,  he 
has  thus  far  escaped  without  a  wound.  At  Cerro  Gordo 
more  than  half  his  company  were  killed  or  wounded.  At 
Contreras  he  led  the  advanced  guard  and  commenced  that 
glorious  action.  At  Churubusco  he  also  escaped,  and  al 
though  66  of  the  125  of  his  storming  at  Chapultepec,  were 
killed  or  wounded,  he  was  untouched.  Besides  his  hair 
breadth  escapes  where  his  regiment  has  been  engaged,  his 
good  fortune  has  favored  him  in  several  of  the  most  success 
ful  and  daring  attacks  on  the  guerillas.  At  Puerto  del 
Media,  near  Tera  Cruz,  he  was  specially  noticed  by  Gen. 
Smith  for  his  skill  and  gallantry,  At  San  Juan  de  los  Ilan- 
nos,  he  commanded  the  main  storming  party,  and  was  spec 
ially  commended  by  Capt.  Ruff,  who  commanded  the  expe 
dition.  He  attacked  the  guerillas,  Rea  and  Torrejon,  at 
Tclascala,  and  recaptured  a  train  valued  at  $50,000,  they 


104  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

had  stolen  from  Mexican  merchants.  This  attack  was  one 
of  the  most  successful  and  daring  of  the  war.  Capt.  R.  had 
but  120  menj  and  charged  the  town,  held  by  600  lancers  and 
guerillas,  captured  the  train  and  a  large  uumber  of  horses 
and  mules,  before  the  arrival  of  a  large  infantry  force,  under 
Gen.  Lane,  had  come  up.  The  General  in  his  report  com 
mended  Capt.  R.  in  the  highest  terms. 


Capture  of  Gen.  Valencia. 

Col.  F.  M.  Wynkoop,  of  the  first  Pennsylvania  volunteers, 
having  learned  by  a  Mexican  friend  that  Padre  Jarauta,  and 
Gen.  Rea  were  at  Tlalnepanatla,  about  five  leagues  from 
Mexico,  applied  to  Gen.  Scott  for  permission  to  take  twenty 
men  and  capture  them.  Permission  being  granted,  the  Col. 
set  off  on  the  first,  with  thirty-eight  Texan  Rangers,  under 
command  of  Lieuts.  Daggart,  Burkes,  and  Jones.  Upon 
arriving  at  and  charging  Tlalnepanatla,  and  finding  no  one 
there,  they  learned  that  Rea  and  Jaruata  had  left  for  Toluca 
a  few  hours  previous,  to  their  arrival.  Col.  Wynkoop  here 
learned  that  Gen.  Valencia  and  his  staff  were  at  a  hacienda, 
some  six  leagues  distant.  He  immediately  set  off  with  his 
party,  and  arrived  at  the  hacienda,  which  they  surrounded. 
Admittance  into  the  house  was  demanded  by  the  gallant 
little  party,  but  it  was  for  a  time  refused,  when  Col.  Silea,  a 
wounded  Mexican  officer  on  parole,  opened  the  door  and 
assured  Col.  Wynkoop  that  Gen.  Valencia  had  departed  that 
day  for  Toluca  ;  but  this  was  not  credited, -and  lights  were 
demanded  to  search  the  building.  Col.  Silea  then  proposed 
to  deliver  Gen.  Valencia  the  next  day,  if  the  party  would  re 
tire.  To  this  the  Colonel  would  not  assent,  and  proposed  to 
send  an  officer  and  eight  men,  with  him,  to  await  their  return. 
This  proposition  completely  nonplussed  Col.  Silea,  and  con 
vinced  Col.  W.  -that  Valencia  was  really  in  the  house.  Search 


A    PALMETTO    SOLDIER.  105 

was  accordingly  made,  but  nothing  could  be  found  of  him. 
Col.  W.  declared  he  would  not  leave  the  hacienda  without 
him,  and  that  if  Valencia  would  give  himself  up,  he  would  be 
perfectly  safe,  but  if  he  attempted  to  escape,  he  would  not 
answer  for  his  life.  At  this  moment  a  person  stepped  up, 
and  said,  "I  am  Valencia."  He  then  said  that  it  was 
against  the  usages  of  civilised  warfare  to  attack  a  man  in  the 
peace  and  quiet  of  his  family,  at  the  dead  hour  of  the  night. 
The  Col.  answered  that  "  It  was  the  only  way  he  could  be 
captured"  Col  Arreta  was  also  captured  in  the  same  haci 
enda  on  that  night. 

Gen.  Valencia  and  Col.  Arreta  were  afterwards  released 
on  their  parole. 


A  Palmetto  Soldier. 

In  December,  1846,  at  Columbia,  in  S.  C.,  the  fair  daugh 
ters  of  that  town  held  a  fair ;  it  was  at  the  time  the  troops 
were  encamped  at  Columbia,  and  about  to  march.  Among 
the  specimens  of  beauty's  handiwork,  was  a  very  handsome 
miniature  American  flag,  on  a  staff.  This  little  flag  was 
presented  to  a  young  soldier,  by  a  lady  who  at  the  same  time 
exacted  a  promise  from  him,  that  if  he  lived  to  return,  he 
should  bring  the  flag  home  with  him. 

The  young  soldier  returned,  and  true  to  his  word,  as  every 
palmetto  boy  is,  has  honorably  redeemed  his  pledge.  But 
the  flag  bears  unmistakable  evidences  that  it  has  been  amidst 
scenes  of  blood  and  carnage.  The  tiny  staff  was  crushed, 
and  its  silken  folds  stained — no,  not  stained,  but  richly  crim 
soned  with  jets  of  gallant  blood.  The  young  soldier  himself 
was  wounded,  and  two,  at  least,  of  his  noble  companions, 
occupying  with  him  the  same  tent,  surmounted  by  this  little 
emblem  of  their  country's  honor,  have  been  brought  home 
lifeless  corpses.  The  lady  who  has  the  flag,  prizes  it  highly, 
and  intends  treasuring  it  up  as  an  interesting  historical  me 
mento,  for  the  instruction  and  imitation  of  her  sons. 


106  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

Baron  Von  Grone. 

This  Prussian  officer  has  lately  returned,  to  Prussia  to  his 
duties  in  the  service  of  the  king  of  Prussia,  after  a  year's 
absence,  on  leave,  with  our  army  in  Mexico.  He  entered 
that  country  about  the  time  the  train  of  Major  Lally  was  leav 
ing  Vera  Cruz,  and  took  an  active  part  in  all  the  operations 
consequent  upon  its  long  and  bloody  march.  His  gallantry 
at  Puente  Nacional,  and  Cerro  Gordo,  was  a  source  of  the 
greatest  approbation.  It  is  said,  that  the  rapidity  with  which, 
at  the  latter  place,  600  chosen  troops  drove  2500  of  the  ene 
my  from  their  different  positions,  was  owing,  in  a  great  meas 
ure,  to  the  plan  of  battle  he  suggested ;  and  his  conduct  at 
the  bridge,  was  marked  by  equal  skill  and  gallantry. 

Many  incidents  are  related  of  the  cool  daring  of  the  Baron 
on  those  occasions,  by  officers  attached  to  the  expeditions ; 
among  which  may  be  related  the  following : — 

It  seems  that  the  command  having  advanced  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  castle,  and  upon  the  bridge,  in  rather  an  incau 
tious  manner,  were  attacked  in  front  and  on  both  flanks,  and 
a  few  minutes  after,  in  the  rear.  The  fire  was  so  severe  that 
a  retrograde  movement  was  ordered,  and  a  new  positon  assu 
med  some  quarter  of  a  mile  in  the  rear.  To  gain  this  point 
the  troops  had  to  encounter  another  severe  fire  from  the  cas 
tle,  which  at  one  time  threatened  their  entire  annihilation. 
The  Baron  was  one  of  the  last  to  leave  the  bridge,  and  re 
turning  on  foot  and  alone,  received  a  rather  irregular  but 
heavy  volley.  At  the  first  shot,  he  turned  his  face  to  the 
enemy,  and  when  they  had  finished  and  were  reloading,  he 
walked  backwards,  in  a  very  deliberate  manner,  up  the  hill 
to  the  head  of  the  pass  ;  here  he  received  a  wound.  Some 
one  alluding  to  the  circumstance,  enquired  why,  when  the 
fire  opened,  he  had  acted  thus  ?  The  Baron  replied,  "Ah, 
that  was  very  natural ;  the  balls  began  to  grow  thick,  and  I 
turned,  for  a  gentleman  does  not  like  to  be  shot  in  the  back." 

After  the  castle  was  taken,  it  was  found  that  there  was  a 


THE  LATE  CAPTAIN  JOHNSTON.          107 

large  breach  in  the  wall ;  the  Baron  observing  it,  and  that 
there  was  a  large  body  of  men  hovering  near,  with  the  appa 
rent  purpose  of  renewing  the  attack,  insisted  that  the  breach 
should  be  secured.  The  young  officer  in  command  remon 
strated,  stating  that  the  men,  having  been  fighting  all  day, 
were  tired  and  wanted  rest.  "Tired,  sir;  want  rest? 
What  is  tired  ?  A  soldier  is  never  tired  !  " 

Having  been  rather  hasty  in  entering  the  city  of  Jalapa, 
he  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Mexican  commander,  (Capt. 
Nunen,)  who,  after  asking  him  a  variety  of  questions  con 
cerning  his  name,  rank,  &c.,  proceeded,  "  Well,  sir,  if  you 
are  merely  a  foreigner,  on  a  visit  to  this  country,  what  do 
you  with  these  vile  Americans  ?  "  "Ah,',  said  he,  "  that  is 
your  own  fault ;  one  cannot  travel  in  your  country  without 
a  sword  and  escort !  "  "  But  then,  sir,"  persisted  the  Capt. 
"  you  were  seen  to  draw  and  use  your  sword  in  their  behalf." 
"  It  was  but  right,"  said  the  bold  Baron,  "  for  they  were  as 
sisting  me  on  my  journey  ;  and  for  the  fight,  that  I  could  not 
help,  for  fighting  is  my  trade."  The  American  troops  were 
now,  after  a  stout  resistance,  entering  the  city,  when  the  val 
iant  Captain  vamosed  the  room,  and  made  his  escape  on  the 
Baron's  horse. 

The  Baron  was  also  present,  and  a  volunteer  aid  to  Gen. 
Lane,  at  the  battle  of  Huamantla,  where  the  gallant  Walker 
was  killed ;  at  the  bombardment  of  Atlixco,  and  various 
other  places,  where  his  bravery,  composure,  and  military 
skill,  were  the  subject  of  frequent  remark ;  while  his  gentle 
ness  and  suavity  ia  garrison,  have  endeared  him  to  all  with 
whom  he  has  ever  been  associated. 


Capt.  Johnston. 

Nearly  a  year  has  elapsed  since  was  fought  the  battle  of 
San  Pasqual,  in  which  fell  some  of  the  choicest  spirits  of  that 


108  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

little  band  which  accompanied  Gen.  Kearny  in  his  arduous 
march  to  California.  One  of  the  fallen  was  Captain  Abra 
ham  Robinson  Johnston,  the  second  son  of  Col.  John  John 
ston,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  a  com 
panion  in  arms,  in  the  seventeenth  year  of  his  age,  of  the 
impetuous  Wayne,  in  his  expeditions  against  the  hostile 
Indians  of  the  then  distant  frontier  of  the  northwest,  and  for 
many  years  the  faithful  Agent  for  Indian  Affairs  in  Ohio  and 
Indiana ;  he  was  born  at  Piqua,  Ohio,  on  the  23d  of  May, 
1815,  and  entered  as  a  cadet  the  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point,  in  1830,  at  which  noble  institution,  he  in  due  time 
graduated  with  distinguished  honor.  While  at  the  Academy, 
he  was  remarkable  for  his  fondness  for  the  study  of  the  nat 
ural  sciences,  particularly  geology  and  mineralogy,  and  while 
engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  his  favorite  study,  among  the  almost 
inaccessable  mountains  surrounding  the  Point,  he  was  pre 
cipitated,  by  the  breaking  of  a  root,  by  the  aid  of  which  he 
was  endeavoring  to  reach  an  elevated  position,  in  search  of 
mineralogical  specimens,  into  a  deep  and  rugged  chasm  be 
low,  by  which  fall,  he  had  the  misfortune  to  fracture  a  leg, 
in  which  situation  he  was  compelled  to  drag  himself  along, 
though  suffering  the  most  excrutiating  agony,  until  he  reach 
ed  a  point  where  those  sent  in  search  would  be  likely  to  find 
him.  By  this  accident,  he  was  confined  to  the  hospital 
until  after  the  graduating  of  his  class  ;  but  a  private  examin 
ation  having  been  given  him,  he  was,  soon  after,  appointed 
to  the  1st  regiment  of  dragoons,  which  regiment  he  joined, 
as  soon  as  his  leg  had  become  sufficiently  strong  to  bear  the 
fatigue  of  the  journey  ;  and  continued  with  it  almost  uninter 
ruptedly  until  the  day  of  his  death,  either  on  the  frontier  of 
the  West,  or  among  the  distant  Indian  tribes  beyond — in 
summer,  making  excursions  among  them,  in  winter,  attending 
to  the  arduous  and  annoying  duties  of  a  cavalry  officer  in 
garrison.  On  the  promotion  of  Col.  Kearny  to  his  present 
rank  of  Brigadier,  he  was  selected  by  the  General,  having 


ANECDOTE    OF    THE    INDIANIANS.  109 

been  the  adjutant  of  his  regiment,  as  his  Aid-de-camp,  in 
which  capacity  he  accompanied  him  in  his  expedition  to  Cal 
ifornia,  when,  meeting  the  enemy  at  San  Pasqual,  Johnston 
was  selected  to  lead  the  advance,  which  he  did  in  the  most 
gallant  style,  until,  receiving  a  ball  in  the  head,  he  fell  from 
his  horse,  and  expired  without  a  groan.  He  was  remarkable 
for  his  extreme  benevolence,  and  the  generally  high  tone  of 
his  character,  which  united  to  a  mind  of  superior  order,  en 
deared  him  to  all.  He  was  known  but  to  be  loved.  When 
his  sad  fate  was  announced,  there  was  grief  throughout  the 
army.  Had  he  lived  to  have  prepared  for  publication  the 
rough  notes  taken  by  him  on  the  march  to  California,  a  work 
would  have  been  produced,  which  would  have  been  an  orna 
ment  to  literature  and  an  acquisition  to  science. 


Anecdote  of  the  Indiana  Regiment. 

When  the  new  Indiana  regiment  was  on  its  way  to  Cam- 
argo,  it  evinced  no  disposition  to  obey  the  officers  of  the 
sjeamer,  although  prompt  to  yield  submission  to  its  military 
superiors.  As  the  steamboat  was  breasting  the  current,  under 
full  head  of  stearn,  the  volunteers  placed  themselves  on  the 
shady  side  of  the  boat,  listing  her  so  as  to  make  her  rather 
unmanageable.  The  engineer  called  out  *'  trim  boat,"  but 
no  one  obeyed.  The  request  was  repeated,  but  the  volun 
teers  stood  their  ground,  determined  to  meet  the  danger  of 
bursting  boilers  or  collapsed  flues,  rather  then  forego  the 
comfort  of  the  moment.  The  engineer  thought  that  if  the 
volunteers  would  keep  shady,  he  might  test  their  courage, 
and  at  the  same  time  force  them  to  keep  cool.  As  the  lead 
showed  that  there  were  only  four  feet  of  water  in  the  channel, 
he  suddenly  raised  the  mud-valve,  and  let  loose  a  current  of 
steam  upon  his  military  heroes,  who  were  in  an  instant  over 
board,  and  up  to  their  arm-pits  in  the  water.  The  lord  of 
10 


110  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

steam  had  routed  nearly  a  whole  .regiment,  which  fled  -inglo- 
riously  at  the  first  charge.  The  boat  was  kept  '  trim '  for 
the  remainder  of  the  trip  without  the  least  difficulty. 


Capture  of  Midshipman  Rogers. 

The  successful  exploit  of  burning  the  Creole,  a  fast  sailing 
vessel  supposed  to  be  fitting  out  as  a  privateer,  and  moored 
alongside  of  the  very  walls  of  the  castle  of  San  Juan  de 
Ulloa,  emboldened  the  officers  of  the  Somers  to  undertake 
fresh  enterprises.  One  of  these  was  a.reconnoisance  of  Vera 
Cruz  itself,  with  the  intention  of  ascertaining  the  locality  of 
the  magazine  and  the  feasibility  of  an  attempt  to  blow  it  up, 
and  on  this  hazardous  undertaking  a  little  party,  which  Mid 
shipman  Rogers  and  Surgeon  Wright  volunteered  to  conduct, 
was  made  up. 

For  two  nights,  favored  by  the  darkness,  the  party  pur 
sued  it  reconnoisance  ;  on  the  third,  after  having  obtained  a 
most  complete  and  satisfactory  knowledge  of  the  localities 
about  Vera  Cruz,  and  ascertaining  that  their  object  could  be 
accomplished,  the  little  band  was  surrounded  by  a  small  body 
of  Mexican  lancers,  while  returning  to  the  boat.  Rogers, 
and  the  only  sailor  along  with  him  were  at  once  taken  pris 
oners — Mr.  Wright,  by  presenting  a  pistol  to  the  horsemen, 
succeeded  in  keeping  them  off  until  he  reached  his  men  at 
the  shore,  when  they  at  once  shoved  off  and  succeeded  in 
gaining  the  vessel  in  safety.  Mr.  W.  did  not  dare  to  fire, 
thinking  it  might  bring  a  large  force  upon  him  :  as  it  was,  he 
had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  he  had  saved  the  boat 
and  her  crew. 

Midshipman  Rogers  was  immediately  marched  off  to  the 
castle  of  Perote,  and  experienced  very  rigorous  treatment 
while  on  the  road.  Before  leaving  Vera  Cruz,  however,  the 
British  Consul,  with  a  praiseworthy  generosity,  furnished  him 


CUTTING   OUT    THE    BRIG    CONDOR.  Ill 

with  a  change  of  clothing,  besides  one  hundred  dollars  in 
cash.  After  being  confined  in  the  dungeons  of  Perote  for 
some  time  Midshipman  Rogers  was  removed  to  the  city  of 
Mexico,  when  he  was  allowed  to  wait  upon  the  General-in- 
chief,  Antonio  Lopez  de  Santa  Anna,  who,  with  his  usual 
dissimulation  promised  Midshipman  Rogers  every  conveni 
ence  and  comfort,  a  promise  which  however,  he  did  not  fulfil. 
Midshipman  Rogers  was  thus  left  friendless  in  the  city  of 
Mexico,  the  Mexican  gaoler  having  eased  him  of  the  donative 
of  the  British  consul.  He  was  exposed  to  many  hardships, 
but  finally,  upon  the  approach  of  Scott,  he  succeeded  in 
making  his  escape,  and  joining  the  American  army,  and  after 
wards  served  in  the  battles  under  the  walls  of  Mexico  as  an 
aid  to  the  General-in- chief. 


Cutting  out  the  Mexican  Brig  Condor. 

The  United  Slates  Sloop  of  War,  Cyane,  Com.  Dupont, 
anchored  about  .a  mile  from  the  town  of  Guaymas,  situated 
in  the  Department  of  Sonora,  halfway  up  the  Gulf  of  Cali 
fornia,  east  side,  on  the  3d  of  October,  and  discovered  two 
Mexican  gunboats,  which  she  had  been  in  search  of,  lying 
in  front  of  the  town,  dismantled,  and  their  guns  landed. 
The  Mexican  brig  Condor  was  hauled  close  in,  and  the 
Mexicans  were  busy  in  dismantling  her.  A  large  number 
of  citizens  and  soldiers  had  assembled  on  the  shore  to  watch 
the  movements  of  the  Cyane,  and  to  resist  any  attempts  that 
might  be  made  to  land. 

Com.  Dupont  sent  a  flag  of  truce,  demanding  the  surren 
der  of  the  two  gunboats.  The  Mexican  commandant 
refused  compliance,  as  not  comporting  with  the  Mexican 
national  or  military  character.  Com.  Dupont  immediately 
prepared  for  bombarding  the  town.  The  Cyane,  on  the  7th, 
hauled  up  to  within  about  a  thousand  yards  of  the  town, 


112  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

being  as  near  as  she  could  get  at  high  tide.  Com.  Dupont 
was  then  waited  upon  by  four  persons,  representing  them 
selves  as  neutral  merchants,  who  requested  him  to  defer 
hostilities  for  three  days,  to  allow  them,  as  well  as  others, 
time  to  remove  their  effects.  This  he  promptly  refused, 
as  he  believed  them  to  be  colleagued  with  the  Mexicans, 
which  eventually  proved  to  be  the  case.  They  left  the 
sloop  in  anger,  and  no  sooner  had  they  reached  the  shore, 
than  the  two  gunboats  were  immediately  set  on  fire.  Com. 
Dupont  fired  two  Paixhans  at  the  gunboats,  which  dispersed 
those  who  were  setting  fire  to  them.  The  boats,  however, 
were  soon  destroyed,  and' as  the  ostensible  object  of  the 
expedition  was  now  fulfilled,  (the  destruction  of  the  gun 
boats,  though  it  would,  doubtless,  have  been  much  more 
agreeable  to  the  feelings  of  the  Americans  to  have  captured 
them,  yet,  when  they  reflected  upon  their  small  numbers, 
greatly  reduced  by  sickness,  compared  with  the  force  of  the 
enemy,  who  were  over  five  hundred  strong,  they  considered 
the  affair  as  fortunate  as  was  desirable,)  Com.  Dupont 
ceased  the  bombardment,  and  gave  orders  for  cutting  out  the 
brig  Condor,  lying  under  the  Mexican  batteries. 

Part  of  the  Cyane's  crew  were  now  drafted  for  the  expe 
dition,  perhaps  one  of  the  most  perilous  undertakings  since 
the  burning  of  the  Philadelphia  under  the  walls  of  the 
Bashaw's  castle  at  Tripoli.  The  launch,  with  a  12  pound 
carronade  in  her  bows,  together  with  the  third  cutter,  with 
their  crews  properly  armed  and  equipped,  formed  the  cutting 
out  party,  under  the  command  of  Lieut.  G.  W.  Harrison,, 
assisted  by  Midshipman  Crabb  and  Acting  Boatswain  Col 
lins,  in  the  launch,  and  Lieut.  Higgins  and  Midshipman 
Lewis,  in  the  cutter. 

The  boats  lay  to  for  a  few  moments,  while  Com.  Dupont 
addressed  the  crews  in  few  pertinent  remarks,  setting  for'h 
the  necessity  of  his  sending  them  on  so  hazaradous  an  expe 
dition  ;  wishing  them  to  show  the  enemy,  from  the  manner 


THE    BRIG    FIRED.  113 

in  bringing  out  the  brig  from  her  more  protected  position, 
how  they  would  have  handled  the  gunboats.  The  officers 
and  men  in  the  boats,  envied  by  all  those  on  board,  (for 
such  was  the  enthusiasm  that  every  one  was  disappointed  who 
was  not  selected  to  participate  in  the  attack  upon  the  brig,) 
gave  three  cheers,  and  pulled  for  the  brig. 

It  was  mid-day  when  the  launch  and  cutter  left  the  ship, 
in  full  view  of  the  batteries  of  the  enemy,.  The  Condor  lay 
within  pistol  shot  of  the  town,  and  was  in  complete  range  of 
their  musketry,  stationed  in  perfect  safety  in  the  turning  of 
a  hill ;  while  one  of  their  batteries  could  rake  the  entire  deck 
of  the  brig.  The  guns  of  the  Cyane  immediately  opened  a 
tremendous  fire  upon  the  enemy  to  protect  the  bparding  of 
the  boats ;  but  it  was  discovered,  as  they  drew  near  to  the 
brig,  that  there  was  great  danger  of  her  fire  injuring  those  in 
the  boats,  and  Com.  Dupont  instantly  checked  his  fire.  The 
enemy  reserved  their  fire  until  the  crews  of  the  boats  had 
mounted  the  decks  of  the  Condor,  which  they  galkntly  did, 
raising  with  an  accompaniment  of  three  cheers  the  American 
ensign  at  her  flag  staff.  With  a  deafening  yell  the  enemy 
now  poured  a  dreadful  fire  upon  the  decks,  from  an  18- 
pounder,  charged  with  grape  and  round  shot,  and  a  culver- 
ine,  together  with  sharp  volleys  of  musketry.  The  fire  of 
the  Cyane  was  now  resumed,  and  it  was  so  efficiently  kept 
up  that  it  prevented  the  enemy  from  making  a  nearer 
approach  to  save  the  brig.  The  launch  returned  the  fire  of 
the  battery,  while  the  marines  poured  a  sharp  fire  in  range 
of  the  musketeers, 

Her  cable,  though  of  iron,  was  soon  cut  with  an^xe,  and 
the  crew  began  heaving  cheerily  upon  the  hawser  running  to 
the  kedge  anchor,  which  they  had  dropped  as  they  ap 
proached  the  brig,  with  "  Off  she  goes,  and  off  she  must 
go."  In  the  meantime  the  enemy's  fire  became  so  hot  that 
Lieut.  Harrison  ordered  the  brig  to  be  fired,  fearing  the  boats 
might  be  disabled.  This  work  was  done  under  showers  of 
10* 


114  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

balls,  as  they  were  receiving  the  fire  of  at  least  five  hundred 
muskets.  When  she  was  warped  up  to  the  kedge,  she  was 
taken  in  tow  by  the  boats.  It  was  at  this  moment  that  the 
enemy  had  some  exultation ;  seeing  the  boats  pulling  away 
from  the  brig,  and  not  observing  the  hawser,  which  was 
slack,  they  thought  the  boats  were  beaten  off;  but  they  soon 
saw  the  hawser  tighten,  and  the  brig  follow  the  boats. 

The  brig  was  soon  towed  out  of  range  of  the  enemy's 
musketry,  and  as  she  was  burning  fast,  she  was  towed  to  lee 
ward  and  abandoned.  The  gallant  little  crew  were  joyously 
received  by  those  on  board  the  Cyane,  who  had  witnessed 
their  perilous  and  successful  adventure.  Not  a  man  was 
injured,  which  seems  miraculous,  as  they  were  exposed  to 
an  almost  overwhelming  fire  for  about  thirty  minutes  ;  and  it 
can  only  be  attributed  to  the  incapacity  of  the  Mexicans  in 
aiming  their  guns,  a  characteristic  of  theirs,  which  they  have 
faithfully  preserved  in  every  engagement  which  they  have 
had  with  American  troops. 


Eating  a  Mexican. 

A  scouting  party  arrived  late  one  evening  at  the  village  of 
Mineral  del  Monte,  near  the  city  of  Mexico,*  and  put  up  at 
the  house  of  Don  Pedro,  one  of  the  first  citizens  of  the 
place,  who  received  them  very  kindly.  The  people  of  the 
village  had  been  told  that  the  Americans  were  in  the  habit  of 
feasting  upon  children  ;  and,  fearful  that  some  of  the  dra-* 
goons  might  want  a  Mexican  child  for  his  supper,  they  had 
removed  all  those  "  pledges  of  love." 

Lieut.  M.  having  heard  this  story,  thought  of  amusing 
himself  with  the  fears  of  the  Mexicans ;  and  accordingly 
accosted  a  man  in  the  street,  if  he  knew  where  he  could  get 
a  nice  fat  boy  for  supper ;  adding  that  he  was  very  hungry. 


COSTLY    UNIFORM.  115 

The  astonished  and  frightened  Mexican  answered  with  a 
doleful  shake  of  the  head,  "hay  no." 

"  Well,"  said  M.  "  as  I'm  hungry,  I  ain't  particular — 
let's  have  a  little  girl  then." 

The  poor  man,  still  more  horrified,  declared  that  there 
were  none  of  those  in  the  village. 

The  Lieut,  then  said,  •"  Well,  if  you  can't  let  me  have  a 
boy  or  a  girl,  be  so  good  as  to  show  me  a  market  where  I 
can  get  a  choice  piece  of  a  full-grown  man,  as  I'm  dreadful 
hungry,  and  must  have  something  to  eat !  " 

This  was  too  much  for  the  Mexican,  and  he  took  to  his 
heels  in  the  twinkling  of  a  jack-knife. 


Costly  Uniform. 

Gen.  Valencia,  who  was  so  badly  whipped  by  Gen. 
Smith,  at  Contreras,  possesses  one  requisite,  and  the  chief 
requisite  of  a  great  Mexican  general,  he  has  a  most  splendid 
and  costly  uniform.  It  is  said  that  when  in  full  dress  he 
bore  upon  his  distinguished  person  at  least  $20,000  worth  of 
gold,  diamonds,  and  precious  metals.  What  a  splendid 
capture  he  would  have  been  to  some  of  our  ragged  boys  ! 
No  wonder  he  ran  so  fast  when  Riley  charged  his  batteries. 
He  had  something  to  run  for,  though  how  he  made  such 
good  time  under  such  a  heavy  load,  was  a  wonder  to  every 
body.  We  understand,  however,  that  the  general  was  in 
•very  bad  spirits — we  mean  nothing  against  the  quality  of  the 
spirits  with  which  he  quenched  the  valor  of  his  soul,  and 
kept  the  cold  off  his  stomach — on  the  memorable  night  of 
the  18th  of  August ;  but  he  was  disheartened  by  the  ab 
sence  of  a  magnificent  jewelled  sword,  which  cost  $10,000, 
and  which,  under  a  monied  pressure,  he  had  left  "  in  soak" 
at  the  Monte  Pio.  This  sword  is  now  to  be  seen  in  Mex- 


1L6  r  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

ico,  and  was  pawned  for  $1,500.  Its  absence  at  Contreras 
has  been  assigned  by  Valencia's  friends  as  one  of  the  causes 
of  his  defeat  in  that  battle. 

It  would  be  an  interesting  contrast  to  estimate  the  compar 
ative  value  of  the  respective  uniforms  of  Gen.  Valencia,  the 
conquered,  and  Gen.  Smith,  the  victor,  at  Contreras.  The 
result  will  throw  much  light  upon  the  great  leading  distinc 
tive  traits  of  the  American  and  Mexican  character.  Without 
meaning  to  impugn  the  richness  and  extent  of  Gen.  Smith's 
wardrobe,  we  do  not  think  it  extravagant  to  estimate  the 
value  of  the  old  dark  blue  coat  and  lightish  blue  pants,  six- 
bit  glazed  cap,  cork-soled  boots,  and  service  sabre,  worn  by 
the  hero  of  Contreras,  on  that  memorable  day,  as  of- the  val 
ue  of  $15.  We  doubt  whether  any  of  our  little  Jew  tailors 
would  not  think  that  amount  enormous. 

But  the  inward  man  of  these  two  generals  is  not  less 
striking  in  contrast  than  their  outward  man.  The  showy 
and  costly  exterior  of  the  one  covers  a  vain,  faithless,  cow 
ardly  heart — whilst  the  plain,  simple,  and  unpretening 
appearance  of  the  other  gives  token  of  the  dauntless  heart 
and  indomitable  character,  that  made  him  the  Conqueror 
and  Hero. 


Mexican  Cavalry  Officers. 

CORTAZAR  is  a  member  of  one  of  the  first  families  of 
Guanajuato — a  family  that  has  always  taken  a  leading  part 
in  the  affairs  of  Mexico.  He  received  the  rank  'he  now 
holds  in  1841 — being  then  the  Governor  of  Guanajuato.  In 
the  year  just  mentioned,  Santa  Anna  pronounced  against 
President  Bustamente,  who,  doubting  the  loyalty  of  Cortazar, 
sent  him  the  General's  sash  as  an  inducement  to  be  faithful. 
But  the  present  had  not  the  desired  effect ;  or  rather,  as  some 
say,  it  arrived  at  Guanajuato  a  day  or  two  too  late. 


MEXICAN    CAVALRY    OFFICERS.  117 

GUZMAN.  There'is  scarcely  a  cavalry  officer  in  the  Mex 
ican  army,  who  has  seen  more  service  than  he  has.  It  was 
in  1839,  or  in  1840,  that  Guzman  received  the  rank  of  Gen 
eral  of  Brigade,  which  was  not  the  reward  of  political  intrigue 
or  tergiversation.  It  was  won  by  hard  fighting.  In  the  de 
partment  of  Morelia  he  maintained  for  nearly  three  years — 
and  with  but  little  assistance  from  the  Government — a  haras 
sing  war  with  the  Federalists ;  defeated  them  in  several  en 
gagements,  and  finally  compelled  them  to  sue  for  peace. 
More  than  one  act  of  daring  has  been  attributed  to  this  offi 
cer.  It  is  said  that  during  an  emeute,  he  galloped  towards  a 
gun  which  the  artillerymen  had  deserted,  and  for  a  few  min 
utes  alone  kept  the  insurgents  at  bay. 

TORREJON  is  a  mestizo,  or  half-breed  ;  and,  like  most 
mestizoes,  is  by  no  means  distinguished  for  personal  beauty. 
Like  Guerrero,  and  other  Mexican  officers  who  have  had  a 
large  admixture  of  Indian  blood  in  their  veins,  Torrejon  is 
very  cunning.  In  laying  traps  for  an  adversary,  he  is  re 
markably  expert ;  and,  as  will  be  remembered,  it  was  he  who 
surrounded  and  took  prisoners  Captain  Thornton's  command 
of  sixty  men. 

General  JOSE  MARIA  MINON  is  in  most  respects  the  op 
posite  of  Torrejon.  Both  are  men  of  courage  ;  but  there  is 
something  chivalric  in  the  courage  of  Minon ; — nothing  in 
that  of  Torrejon.  Torrejon  rarely  attacks  an  enemy,  except 
by  means  of  an  ambuscade.  Minon  would  almost  scorn  to 
vanquish  an  enemy  in  that  way.  They  are  as  unlike  in  per 
son  as  they  are  in  mind.  Minon  has  a  fine  figure  and  ex 
pressive  features.  He  is  a  great  favorite  in  the  Mexican 
army,  who  like  him  for  his  chivalric  courage — and  style  him 
the  "  Murat  of  Mexico."  He  is  now  forty-six  or  forty-eight 
years  of  age — or  in  the  prime  of  life.  He  was  made  a  Gene 
ral  of  Brigade  in  1828,  having  distinguished  himself  at  the 
battle  of  Acajete.  He  served  during  the  campaign  in  1836, 
but  was  not  present  at  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto.  When  con- 


118  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

versing  with  Englishmen  or  Americans,  he  descants  in  the 
highest  terms,  upon  the  valor  displayed  by  the  Texans  through 
out  the  campaign  in  question.  Amongst  the  instances  of 
•  that  valor  which  he  relates  as  having  come  under  his  own 
observation,  is  the  following  : 

During  a  skirmish,  Minon  saw  a  Texan  pursued  by  five 
Mexican  foot  soldiers.  The  Texan  finding  his  pursuers 
gaining  upon  him,  turned  suddenly  round  and  shot  the  fore 
most  Mexican  dead.  Then  clubbing  his  rifle,  he  withstood 
the  assaults  of  the  others.  Two  of  them  he  struck  dead; 
but  in  doing  this  he  broke  his  rifle,  and  at  that  moment  the 
remaining  Mexican  stabbed  him  in  the  back  and  killed  him. 


Capture  of  Captain  Thornton's  Command. 

On  the  evening  of  the  23d  of  April,  Gen.  Taylor  received 
intelligence  that  the  Mexicans  had  crossed  the  Rio  Grande  ; 
about  twenty-five  hundred  men  above  and  fifteen  hundred 
below  the  American  Fort.  Two  squadrons  of  dragoons 
were  the  next  day  despatched,  one  in  each  direction,  for  the 
purpose  of  reconnoitering  the  Mexican  advance.  The 
squadron  ordered  above  was  in  command  of  Captain  Thorn 
ton,  and  composed  of  Captain  Hardee,  Lieutenants  Kane 
and  Mason,  and  sixty-one  privates  and  non-commissioned 
officers,  who  found  that  the  Mexicans  had  crossed  over  the 
river  in  great  numbers.  Captain  Thornton  had  proceeded 
but  about  twenty-four  miles,  and  as  he  supposed  to  within 
about  three  miles  of  the  Mexican  camp,  when  his  guide  re 
fused  to  go  any  further,  stating  for  his  reason  that  the  whole 
country  was  infested  with  Mexicans. 

Captain  Thornton,  however,  proceeded  on  with  his  com 
mand  about  two  miles,  when  on  the  26th  he  came  to  a  farm* 
house,  which  was  enclosed  entirely  by  a  chapparel  fence, 
with  the  exception  of  that  portion  of  it  which  bordered  on 


CAPTAIN    BUTLER.  119 

the  river,  and  this  was  so  boggy  as  to  be  impassable.  He 
entered  this  enclosure  through  a  pair  of  bars,  and  approach 
ed  the  house  for  the  purpose  of  making  some  inquiry,  his 
command  followed.  They  had  no  sooner  entered  than  from 
the  chapparel  there  sprung  out  some  two  thousand  Mexicans, 
completely  surrounding  him  and  opening  a  severe  fire.  He 
wheeled  his  men  for  the  purpose  of  charging  the  enemy, 
when  his  horse  having  received  a  shot,  ran  away  with  him, 
and  leaping  the  chapparel  fence,  plunged  down  a  precipice 
and  fell,  Captain  Thornton  under  him,  who  remained  insen 
sible  for  several  hours.  Captain  Hardee,  who  succeeded  to 
the  command,  attempted  to  effect  an  escape,  but  finding  it 
impossible,  prepared  to  resist  to  the  last  extremity,  when  a 
Mexican  officer  rode  up  and  asked  him  to  surrender,  prom 
ising  to  treat  him  and  his  force  as  prisoners  of  war  accor 
ding  to  the  custom  of  civilized  nations.  Captain  Hardee 
then  surrendered. 

In  this  engagement  Lieutenant  Mason  and  nine  men  were 
killed,  and  two  wounded,  who  were  sent  by  the  Mexicans 
into  the  American  camp.  Captain  Thornton  was  subse 
quently  taken  prisoner. 


Captain  Butler. 

It  has  been  already  announced  that  Captain  John  Butler, 
of  the  3d  dragoons,  U.  S.  A.,  died  at  Mier,  on  the  23d  of 
December  last.  He  sunk  under  a  malady  which  has  robbed 
•  the  army  of  many  brave  spirits — himself  of  the  bravest.  He 
was  the  grandson  of  Pierce  Butler,  a  delegate  from  the  State 
of  South  Carolina  to  the  Convention  that  framed  the  Consti 
tution  of  the  United  States.  His  father  was  distinguished 
for  courage  and  patriotism  during  the  revolutionary  war,  and 
has  furnished  bright  names  for  the  scroll  of  fame  since  the 
achievement  of  the  independence  of  America.  The  imme- 


120  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

diate  subject  of  this  notice  inherited  the  wealth  and  spirit  of 
a  line  of  noble  ancestry.  He  was  of  that  joyous  and  gene 
rous  turn  of  mind  which  tempers  courage  with  the  sweetest 
attributes  of  social  excellence.  He  was  wealthy  and  brave. 
A  scholar,  a  gentleman,  and  a  soldier.  For  many  years  he 
occupied  a  distinguished  position  in  the  fashionable  circles  of 
Philadelphia,  where  his  residence  was  a  pattern  of  elegant 
taste,  and  the  resort  of  wit  and  learning.  His  fireside  was 
adorned  by  his  lady,  whose  accomplished  manners  imparted 
grace  and  dignity  to  the  hospitalities  of  a  polished  and  pro 
fuse  household. 

The  war  found  Captain  Butler  thus  surrounded  by  luxu 
ries,  blest  with  domestic  comfort,  and  honored  by  troops  of 
friends.  Less  than  these  would  have  been  a  sacrifice 
for  the  toils  of  a  campaign.  But  the  spirit  of  the 
Butlers  of  the  Revolution  was  awakened  in  the  breast  of 
this  their  representative,  and  he  at  once  sought  a  place  under 
the  flag  of  his  country.  He  joined  the  3d  dragoons  as 
captain  ;  and  though  the  chances  of  war  have  not  thrown  in 
his  way  opportunities  of  signalizing  himself  by  such  deeds 
as  command  the  admiration  of  millions,  his  soldierly  bearing 
and  prompt  spirit  acquired  for  him  the  respect  of  his  corps 
and  the  admiration  of  his  commanding  officer.  His  com 
pany  acknowledged  no  superior  in  discipline  and  effective 
ness.  He  was  a  soldier  from  choice.  He  entered  the  army 
from  the  impulses  of  a  gallant  heart,  and  whilst  the  most 
exemplary  officers,  he  was  yet  one  of  the  kindest  and  most 
generous  of  men.  He  was  respected  for  his  manliness,  ad 
mired  for  his  devotion  to  duty,  and  loved  for  the  munificence 
of  his  disposition.  The  loss  of  such  a  man  was  a  loss  to  the 
service,  His  place  at  the  head  of  his  column  can  with  dif- 
•ficulty  be  supplied,  his  loss  at  the  hearthstone  can  never  be. 
It  was  one  of  the  griefs  of  his  friends  that  he  was  worsted  by 
disease.  They  would  have  been  prepared  to  hear  of  his 
falling  in  the  midst  of  battle  ;  for  such  men  are  born  to 
return  from  the  wars  with  honor,  or  to  return  not  at  all. 


FREMONT'S  RIDE.  121 

Fremont's  Extraordinary  Hide. 

It  was  at  day  break  on  the  22d  March,  1847,  that  Lieut. 
Col.  Fremont,  his  friend  Don  Jesus  (pronounced  Haisoos,) 
Pico,  and  his  servant  Jacob  Dodsons,  set  out  from  La  Ciudad 
le  los  Angeles  (the  city  of  the  Angels,)  in  the  southern  part 
of  upper  California,  to  proceed,  in  the  shortest  time,  to  Mon 
terey  on  the  Pacific  ocean,  distant  full  four  hundred  miles. 
The  way  is  over  a  mountainous  country,  much  of  it  unin 
habited,  with  no  other  road  than  a  trace,  and  many  defiles  to 
pass,  and  particularly  the  maritime  defile  of  El  Rincon,  or 
Punto  Gordo,  fifteen  miles  in  extent,  made  by  the  jutting 
of  a  precipitous  mountain  into  the  sea,  and  which  can  only 
be  passed  when  the  tide  is  out  and  the  sea  calm,  and  even 
then  in  many  places  through  the  waves.  The  towns  of  Santa 
Barbara  and  San  Luis  Obispo,  and  occasional  ranches,  are 
the  principal  inhabited  places  on  the  route.  Each  of  the 
party  had  three  horses,  nine  in  all,  to  take  their  turn  under 
the  saddle.  The  six  loose  horses  ran  ahead,  without  bridle 
or  halter,  and  required  some  attention  to  keep  the  track. 
When  wanted  for  a  change,  say  at  distances  of  twenty  miles, 
they  were  caught  by  the  lasso,  thrown  either  by  Don  Jesus 
or  Jacob.  None  of  the  horses  were  shod.  The  usual  gait 
was  a  sweeping  gallop.  The  first  day  they  ran  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  miles.  The  next  day  they  made  another  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  miles,  passing  the  formidable  moun 
tain  of  Santa  Barbara,  and  counting  upon  it  the  skeletons  of 
some  fifty  horses,  part  of  near  double  that  number  which 
perished  in  the  crossing  of  that  terrible  mountain  by  the  Cal 
ifornia  battalion  on  Christmas  day,  1846,  amidst  a  raging 
tempest,  and  a  deluge  of  rain  and  cold  more  killing  than  that 
of  the  Sierra  Nevada — the  day  of  severest  suffering,  say 
Fremont  and  his  men,  that  they  have  ever  passed.  At  sun 
set  the  party  stopped  to  sup  with  the  friendly  Capt.  Dana, 
and  at  nine  at  night,  San  Luis  Obispo  was  reached,  the  home 
of  Don  Jesus,  and  where  an  affecting  reception  awaited  Lieut 
11 


122  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

Col.  Fremont,  in  consequence  of  an  incident  that  occurred 
there,  which  history  will  one  day  record  ;  and  he  was  detain 
ed  till  eleven  o'clock  in  the  morning,  receiving  the  visits  of 
the  inhabitants,  (mothers  and  children  included,)  taking  a 
breakfast  of  honor,  and  waiting  for  a  relief  of  fresh  horses  to 
be  brought  in  from  the  surrounding  country.  Here  the  nine 
horses  from  San  Angeles  were  left,  and  eight  others  taken  in 
their  place,  and  a  Spanish  boy  added  to  the  party  to  assist 
in  managing  the  loose  horses.  Proceeding  at  the  usual  gait 
till  eight  at  night,  and  having  made  some  seventy  miles,  Don 
Jesus,  who  had  spent  the  night  before  with  his  family  and 
friends,  and  probably  with  but  little  sleep,  became  fatigued, 
and  proposed  a  halt  for  a  few  hours.  It  was  in  the  valley  of 
the  Salinas,  (Salt  River,  called  Buena  Ventura,  in  the  old 
maps,)  and  the  haunt  of  marauding  Indians.  For  safety  du 
ring  their  repose,  the  party  turned  off  the  trace,  issued  through 
a  Canada  into  a  thick  wood,  and  laid  down,  the  horses  being 
put  to  grass  at  a  short  distance,  with  the  Spanish  boy  in  the 
saddle  to  watch.  Sleep,  when  commenced,  was  too  sweet 
to  be  easily  given  up,  and  it  was  halfway  between  midnight 
and  day,  when  the  sleepers  were  aroused  by  an  estampedo 
among  the  horses,  and  the  calls  of  the  boy.  The  cause  of 
the  alarm  was  soon  found — not  Indians,  but  white  bears — 
this  valley  being  their  favorite  resort,  and  the  place  where 
Col.  F.  and  thirty-five  of  his  men  encountered  some  hundred 
of  them  the  summer  before,  killing  thirteen  of  them  on  the 
ground.  The  character  of  these  bears  is  well  known,  and 
the  bravest  hunters  do  not  like  to  meet  them  without  the  ad 
vantage  of  numbers.  On  discovering  the  enemy,  Col.  F. 
felt  for  his  pistols,  but  Don  Jesus  desired  him  to  lie  still, 
saying  that  "  people  could  scare  bears;"  and  immediately 
hallooed  at  them  in  Spanish,  and  they  went  off  Sleep  went 
off  also ;  and  the  recovery  of  the  horses,  frightened  by  the 
bears,  building  a  rousing  fire,  making  a  breakfast  from  the 
hospitable  supplies  of  San  Luis  Obispo,  occupied  the  party 


FREMONT'S  RIDE.  123 

till  daybreak,  when  the  journey  was  resumed.  Eighty  miles 
and  the  afternoon  brought  the  party  to  Monterey.  The  next 
day,  in  the  afternoon,  the  party  set  out  on  their  return,  and 
the  two  horses  rode  by  Col.  F.  from  San  Luis  Obispo,  being 
a  present  from  Don  Jesus,  he  (Don  Jesus,)  desired  to  make 
an  experiment  of  what  one  of  them  could  do.  They  were 
brothers,  one  a  grass  younger  than  the  other,  both  of  the 
same  color,  (cinnamon)  and  hence  called  el  canalo  or  los 
canalos,  (the  cinnamon,  or  the  cinnamons.)  The  elder  was 
taken  for  the  trial ;  and  the  journey  commenced  upon  him 
at  leaving  Monterey,  the  afternoon  well  advanced.  Thirty 
miles  under  the  saddle  done  that  evening,  and  the  party  stop 
ped  for  the  night.  In  the  morning  the  elder  canalo  was 
again  under  the  saddle,  for  Col.  F.,  and  for  ninety  miles  he 
carried  him  without  a  change  and  without  apparent  fatigue. 
It  was  still  thirty  miles  to  San  Luis  Obispo,  where  the  night 
was  to  be  passed,  and  Don  Jesus  insisted  that  canalo  could 
easily  do  it,  and  so  said  the  horse  by  his  looks  and  actions. 
But  Col.  F.  would  not  put  him  to  the  trial,  and,  shifting  the 
saddle  to  the  younger  brother,  the  elder  was  turned  loose  to 
run  the  remaining  thirty  miles  without  a  rider.  He  did  so, 
immediately  taking  the  lead  and  keeping  it  all  the  way,  and 
entered  San  Luis  in  a  sweeping  gallop,  nostrils  distended, 
snuffing  the  air,  and  neighing  with  exultation  at  his  return  to 
his  native  pastures,  his  younger  brother  all  the  while  running 
at  the  head  of  the  horses  under  the  saddle,  bearing  on  his  bit 
and  held  in  by  his  rider.  The  whole  eight  horses  made 
their  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  each,  that  day,  (after 
thirty  the  evening  before,)  the  elder  cinnamon  making  ninety 
of  his  under  the  saddle  that  day,  besides  thirty  under  the 
saddle  the  evening  before  ;  nor  was  there  the  least  doubt  that 
he  would  have  done  the  whole  distance  in  the  same  time,  if 
he  had  continued  under  the  saddle.  After  a  hospitable  de 
tention  of  another  half  day  at  San  Luis  Obispo,  the  party  set 
out  for  Los  Angeles,  on  the  same  nine  horses  which  they  had 


124  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

rode  from  that  place,  and  made  the  ride  back  in  about  the 
same  time  they  had  made  it  up,  namely,  at  the  rate  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  miles  a  day.  On  this  ride  the  grass 
on  the  road  was  the  food  for  the  horses.  At  Monterey  they 
had  barley;  but  these  horses,  meaning  those  trained  and 
domesticated,  as  the  canalos  were,  eat  almost  anything  in  the 
way  of  vegetable  food,  or  even  drink,  that  their  master  uses, 
by  whom  they  are  petted  and  caressed,  and  rarely  sold. 
Bread,  fruits,  sugar,  coffee,  and  even  wine,  like  the  Persian 
horse,  they  take  from  the  hand  of  their  master,  and  obey  with 
like  docility  his  slightest  intimation.  A  tap  of  the  whip  on 
the  saddle  springs  him  into  action ;  the  check  of  a  thread 
rein,  on  a  Spanish  bit,  would  stop  them  ;  and  stopped  short 
at  speed,  they  do  not  jostle  the  rider  or  throw  him  forward. 
They  leap  on  any  thing — man,  beast,  or  weapon,  on  which 
their  master  directs  them.  But  this  description,  so  far  as 
conduct  and  behavior  are  concerned,  of  course  only  applies  to 
the  the  trained  and  domesticated  horse. — Nat.  Intelligencer. 


The  Man  who  was  not  lorn  to  be  killed  by  a  Shell. 

During  the  bombardment  of  Fort  Brown,  the  besieged 
troops  were  obliged  to  throw  themselves  flat  upon  the  ground 
every  time  a  shell  from  the  enemy  was  fired  at  them.  A  shell 
exploding  among  men  in  a  standing  position,  would  be  more 
apt  to  kill  them,  than  if  they  were  close  to  the  ground.  A 
knot  of  officers  were  standing  together  for  a  moment  one  day, 
resting  and  chatting,  when  the  look-out  man  gave  the  word 
to  dodge  a  shell.  The  officers  were  down  in  an  instant, 
Lieut.  H.  prostrating  himself  face  downward,  and  looking 
over  his  shoulder.  The  shell  came  fizzling  down,  close  by 
them.  "  I  wonder  if  she'll  bust,"  remarked  the  waggish  H. ; 
"  she's  a  d — 1  of  a  long  while  about  it,  any  how."  Hardly 
were  the  words  uttered,  when  a  tremendous  explosion  replied 


to  them,  and  H.'s  head  went  down  like  a  lump  of  lead. 
Pretty  soon  the  pieces  began  to  fall,  with  a  pattering  sound, 
around  them. — "  Now  we'll  catch  it,"  remarked  H.  inclining 
his  head  a  little  upward,  but  still  keeping  close.  "  There  it 
cornes  !  "  said  he,  as  he  saw  a  large  fragment  descending 
rapidly,  directly  upon  his  back.  His  comrades  saw  it.  and 
thought,  sure  enough,  that  poor  H.'s  time  had  come.  'Twas 
useless  to  dodge,  for  he  might  roll  himself  directly  in  the  way 
of  it,  so  he  "lay  and  took  it,"  as  he  remarked  afterwards. 
The  piece  hit  him  plumb  between  the  shoulders.  "  Hoo  !" 
grunted  H.,  and  his  friends  sprang  forward  to  see  if  he  was 
dead.  "Are  you  hurt,  H.  ?  "  "No,"  said  he  cooly,  rising 
and  shaking  his  coat,  "  but  a  fellow  might  as  well  be,  as  to 
be  scared  to  death !"  It  was  a  clod  of  dirt  that  hit  him,  the 
shell  having  penetrated  the  ground,  in  a  hard  place,  throwing 
off  clods  in  every  direction, 
ii-y 


"  A  fire  in  the  Rear." 

Water  was  scarce  during  the  heat  of  summer,  at  Brasos 
Island,  and  liquor  not  so  plentiful,  at  times,  as  the  necessities 
of  the  sojourners  required.  It  was  at  one  of  these  thirsty 
seasons  that  a  Yankee,  by  some  hook  or  crook,  got  hold  of 
a  barrel  of  tolerably  fair  cider  and  with  this  small  stock  in 
trade  he  at  once  "  set  up"  business.  To  rake  and  scrape  to 
gether  a  parcel  of  boards  and  odd  bits  of  canvass,  enough  to 
build  a  small  shanty,  was  the  work  of  but  a  short  hour ;  to 
set  the  barrel  on  a  couple  of  skids,  in  the  back  part  of  the 
tent,  to  tap  it,  and  to  commence  retailing  it  at  a  dime  a  glass, 
occupied  but  a  short  time  more. 

Customers  flocked  in  by  the  dozens,  the  cider  went  off  at 

a  rapid  rate,  and  the  Yankee  was  making  his  "  etarnal  fortin" 

at  a  stride  that  would  have  elated  John  Jacob  Astor,  in  his 

early  days.     Some  of  his  patrons  complained  that  a  dime  a 

11* 


126  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

glass  for  cider,  which  was  not  worth  more  than  two  dollars  a 
barrel  at  the  outside,  was  an  outrageous  .price  ;  but  the  times 
were  hard,  the  retailer's  conscience  easy — he  had  all  the  ci 
der  in  the  market,  and  could  not  afford  to  sell  any  cheaper. 
This  state  of  things  went  on  for  an  entire  day,  the  Yankee's 
quarters  being  beset  by  throngs  of  patrons.  On  the  following 
morning,  and  before  the  cider  was  yet  half  sold,  they  began 
to  thin  off  gradually,  and  by  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  it 
was  only  now  and  then  that  a  straggling  stranger  visited  the 
shade  and  cider  of  the  retailer.  What  was  the  matter? 
What  had  caused  this  sudden  falling  off  of  custom  ?  The 
reader  will  soon  see. 

Towards  night  a  new  face  appeared  in  the  shanty,  and 
called  for  a  glass  of  cider.  It  was  drawn,  swallowed,  and 
the  customer  took  out  his  purse  and  enquired  the  price. 

"  One  dime."  said  the  Yankee. 

"  One  what  ?  "  retorted  the  customer. 

"  One  dime,"  cooly  replied  the  Yankee. 

"  One  h — 11,"  snarled  the  customer  ;  "  why,  I  can  get 
just  as  good  cider  here  for  Jive  cents  a  glass." 

"  N-o  y-o-u  c-a-n-t,"  drawled  the  Yankee.  "  There  aint 
a  pint  of  cider,  'cept  what  I've  got  in  this  here  barril,  this 
side  of  Orleans,  I'll  be  darned  if  there  is." 

"  I  know  better,"  ejaculated  the  customer,  tartly.  "  I 
bought  a  glass  of  cider  not  two  hours  ago,  and  only  paid  five 
cents  for  it." 

"  I'd  like  to  know  where  you  effected  that  small  transac 
tion,"  queried  the  Yankee. 

'*  Right  round  here,"  was  the  answer. 

"  I  guess  it  was  *  right  round  here.'  Right  round  ivhere, 
I'd  like  to  know?  "  continued  the  cider  vender. 

"  Why,  close  by  here,  somewhere — just  back  of  your 
place,"  returned  the  customer. 

"  I'll  bet  you  tu  drinks  you  didn't,"  spoke  up  the  Yankee, 
"  and  we'll  go  right  round  and  see." 

"  Done,"  said  the  customer,  and  off  they  started. 


AMPUDIA  AND  TAYLOR.  127 

Sure  enough,  "right  round  here,"  they  found  another  ci 
der  establishment  in  full  blast.  A  second  Yankee  had  rig 
ged  a  small  shade  in  the  rear  of  the  first  Yankee's  shanty, 
had  tapped  the  other  end  of  the  latter's  barrel  of  cider, 
through  a  board,  and  was  retailing  it  at  five  cents  a  glass,  to 
a  perfect  rush  of  customers. 


Generals  Taylor  and  Ampudia. 

The  interview  between  Generals  Taylor  and  Ampudia,  in 
relation  to  the  capitulation  of  Monterey,  has  been  described 
by  a  gentleman  who  was  present,  as  a  very  rich  scene,  in 
which  the  two  chiefs  were  in  fine  contrast.  Ampudia  was  all 
courtesy  and  fine  words,  big  speeches,  great  volubility,  with 
an  abundance  of  gesticulation,  shrugs,  nods,  alternate  smiles 
and  frowns,  and  that  whole  catalogue  of  silent  language  with 
which  persons  of  French  origin  ar^p  wont  to  help  the  expres 
sion  of  their  ideas.  Gen.  Ampudia  is  of  a  French  family, 
and  was  bom  in  the  West  Indies.  Gen.  Taylor,  on  the  other 
hand,  was  as  dry  as  a  chip,  as  plain  as  a  pipe-stem,  and  as 
short  as  pie-crust.  Dressed  in  his  best  coat,  (which,  by  the 
by,  looks  as  if  it  had  served  some  half  a  dozen  campaigns,) 
with  his  glazed  oil  cloth  cap,  strapless  pants,  and  old  fash 
ioned  white  vest,  he  seemed  more  like  an  old  farmer,  lately 
elected  militia  colonel,  who  had  put  on  his  every  day  suit, 
with  the  slightest  possible  regard  to  military  toggery,  to  dis 
tinguish  him  from  the  crowd  of  mere  civilians.  In  his  reply 
to  Ampudia's  long  harrangues,  he  used  such  direct,  blunt, 
and  emphatic  language,  that  the  valorous  Mexican  was  taken 
all  aback,  and  "  had  nothing  to  say."  Ampudia  opened  the 
interview  by  saying  that  his  forces  were  too  large  to  be  con 
quered  by  Gen.  Taylor's  arrny — that  he  had.  an  abundance 
of  ammunition,  7000  infantry  and  3000  cavalry,  with  40 
cannon,  and  the  best  artillerists  in  the  world — that  his  loss 
was  very  small,  and  he  felt  confident  that  he  could  defend 


128  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

the  city  against  a  much  stronger  force  than  that  under  Gen. 
Taylor's  command  ;  but  that,  from  motives  of  humanity — to 
save  the  effusion  of  blood — to  save  the  lives  of  helpless  wo 
men  and  children — he  was  willing  so  far  to  compromise  the 
glory  of  the  great  Mexican  nation,  as  to  surrender  the  city, 
provided  he  was  allowed  to  retire  with  the  whole  of  his  force, 
and  carry  the  public  property  with  him,  and  all  the  arms  and 
munitions  of  war.  When  h<3  had  finished  his  magnificent 
oration,  which,  in  the  style  of  his  celebrated  proclamation, 
was  garnished  with  numerous  allusions  to  the  stupendous 
power  and  unfading  glory  and  renown  of  magnanimous  Mex 
ico,  old  Zack  quietly  stuck  his  hands  deep  into  his  breeches 
pockets,  cocked  his  head  a  little  on  one  side,  and  gently  rais 
ing  his  grizzly  eyebrows,  that  the  bold  little  black  eye  lurking 
beneath  might  have  full  play  upon  the  grandiloquent  Mexican, 
replied  in  these  few  but  expressive  words  ;  "  Gen.  Ampudia, 
we  came  here  to  take  Monterey,  and  we  are  going  to  do  it 
on  such  terms  as  please  ,us.  I  wish  you  good  morning." 
And  the  old  general  hobbled  off  on  his  two  short  little  legs, 
leaving  the  Mexican  general  and  staff  in  the  profoundest 
bewilderment. 


Military  Etiquette. 

A  story  is  told  of  an  eccentric  officer,  on  the  banks 
of  the  Rio  Grande,  showing  that  he  is  inclined,  occasionally, 
to  overlook  slight  breaches  of  military  etiquette.  The  officer 
had  returned  from  a  convivial  party,  and  felt  in  a  pretty  good 
humor  with  himself  and  every  body  else.  Being  inclined  to 
breathe  the  fresh  air,  and  suffer  the  effects  of  good  cheer  to 
evaporate,  he  selected  a  patch  of  green  sward  in  camp  for  a 
promenade,  and  commenced  slowly  walking  backward  and 
forward.  Now  it  so  happened  that  a  sentinel  on  duty  had 
post  directly  in  the  officers  line  of  march,  and  every  few  min 
utes  would  encounter  his  superior  officer,  and,  as  in  duty 


TAYLOR    AND    THE    VOLUNTEERS.  129 

bound,  his  musket  would  be  presented  to  salute  him,  and 
when  he  had  passed,  brought  to  the  shoulder  again.  This 
continued  for  a  long  time,  till  the  sentinel  was  quite  tired  of 
saluting  him,  and  at  last  said,  "  Colonel,  if  you  pass  this  way 
again,  sir,  I  shan't  salute  you."  The  officer  paused,  spread 
his  legs,  surveyed  his  man  from  his  glazed  fatigue  cap  to  the 
toes  of  his  brogans,  and  back  to  his  cap  again,  and  thrusting 
his  hands  deep  into  his  pockets,  exclaimed  ;  "  And  if  you 
think  I  care  whether  you  do  or  not,  you  are  most  infernally 
mistaken,  my  fine  fellow — that's  all  I've  got  to  say;"  and  re 
suming  his  promenade,  the  officer  and  private  passed  each 
other  with  the  utmost  indifference. 


Gen.  Taylor  and  the  Volunteers. 

Gen.  Taylor  is  singular  in  everything.  I  have  reason  to 
believe  that  he  is,  notwithstanding  his  austerity  of  manner 
when  busy,  as  full  of  humor  as  an  egg  is  of  meat.  Taking 
this  for  granted,  he  must  have  been  greatly  amused,  the  other 
day,  at  the  manceuvers  of  some  volunteers,  who  went  to  his 
"  ranche"  to  take  a  peep  at  the  old  lion.  The  General's 
tent  is  just  like  those  around  it,  only,  perhaps,  a  little  more 
so — and  when  he  sits  in  it,  with  his  farmer's  clothes  on,  and 
spectacles  on  his  nose,  poring  over  some  order  or  official 
document,  he  looks  more  like  an  honest  yeomen  trying  to 
decipher  the  details  of  his  merchant's  account,  than  the  man 
he  really  is.  The  volunteers,  half  a  dozen  in  number,  loitered 
about  head  quarters  awhile,  and  seeing  the  old  tarpaulin,  that 
is  stretched  over  a  pole  in  front  of  the  General's  tent,  they 
went  under  it  and  seated  themselves  on  the  wooden  benches. 
They  saw  an  honest  looking  elderly  man  seated  in  the  lent, 
eight  or  ten  feet  off,  and  neither  knowing  or  caring  who  he 
was,  they  chatted  awhile  rather  loudly,  canvassing  the  merits 
and  demerits  of  "  Old  Zach,"  some  saying  that  "  he  was 
a  d — d  tough  old  cock  ;  "  others  that,  "  he  was  pretty  d — d 


130  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

tight  on  the  Americans,  sometimes,"  &c.  Finally  they 
struck  up  old  Dan  Tucker  in  real  Kentucky  style,  beating 
time  on  the  benches,  not  uproarously,  but  heartily.  The 
General  paid  no  attention  to  what  was  going  on,  and  the  free 
hearted  fellows  had  no  idea  that  they  were  within  half  a  mile 
of"  old  Zach,"  thinking,  probably,  that  he  had  "  stepped  out 
somewhere,"  The  General  rose,  and  went  to  Major  Bliss' 
office,  and  spoke  to  him,  and  then  started  off  towards  town. 
"See  here,"  said  one  of  the  volunteers,  "I'll  bet  that  yon 
der  is  old  Zach  !  "  "  Oh  h — 11,  no  !  "  exclaimed  another, 
positively,  "  that  old  Gen.  Taylor !  "  and  he  laughed  the 
other  into  silence.  But  the  first  speaker  thought  he  would 
make  sure,  so  he  stepped  up  to  Major  Bliss  and  asked — "  Is 
that  the  old  fellow,  yonder?"  pointing  to  the  General. 
"What  old  fellow  do  you  mean?"  replied  the  Major. 
"  Why,  the  old  General  that  ain't  him,  is  it?"  "  That  is 
Gen.  Taylor :  yes,  sir,"  replied  the  Major,  highly  amused 
at  the  scene.  "  The  h — 11  it  is,  !  "  exclaimed  the  fellow, 
stalking  after  old  Rough  and  Ready — "  come  on  boys  !  that's 
him,  by  Jupiter,  I  told  you  so  !  " — and  the  company  started 
off  in  pursuit. — Letter  from  an  Officer. 


Lieutenant  Colonel  Duncan. 

Lieut.  Col.  Duncan,  of  the  battalion  of  artillery,  as  at  Palo 
Alto  and  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  signalized  himself  for  his  bra 
very  at  Monterey.  Col.  Duncan  is  known  not  to  be  very 
fastidious  in  his  dres,  rather  negligent  in  matters  of  the  toilet, 
and  this  led  to  a  rather  ludicrous  error  at  the  interview  or 
parley  between  Gens.  Taylor  and  Ampudia,  at  which,  many 
officers,  of  both  armies,  were  present;  and  Lieut.  Duncan 
by  the  invitation  of  Gen.  Taylor.  He  was  unshaven — wore 
a  shocking  bad  hat — and  seeemed  to  have  much  more  of  the 
"  I-do-as-I-d — -n  please"  air  of  the  Texan  Ranger,  than  he 
had  of  an  officer  of  high  rank  among  the  regulars.  As  he. 


MAJOR    GENERAL    PILLOW.  131 

entered  the  audience  chamber,  with  his  usual  air  of  abandon, 
the  Mexican  officers  seemed  to  have  been  suddenly  and  sim 
ultaneously  operated  upon  by  an  electrifying  machine.  They 
would  look  at  Duncan  and  whisper  to  one  another,  and  then 
look  and  whisper  again.  At  length  Don  Jose  Maria  Negriti, 
a  busy  little  Mark  Meddle  of  a  fellow,  one  of  Ampudia's  aids, 
who  spoke  English  passing  well,  stepped  up  to  one  of  Gen. 
Taylor's  staff,  and  pointing  to  Lieut.  Col.  Duncan,  begged 
to  be  informed  "  If  that  was  not  Capt.  Walker?  "  "  No." 
"  Nor  Hays  ?  "  "  No."  "  Nor  McCulloch?  "  «  No." 
"  Then  is  he  not  at  least  a  Texan?  "  "No,"  The  little 
Aid,  having  got  this  particular  and  general  information  that 
the  gallant  Duncan  was  not  a  Texan  "no  how,"  he  breathed 
freer,  and  returned  to  his  general  and  comrade  officers,  to 
whom  he  communicated  this  gratifying  intelligence.* 


Major  General  Pillow. 

Upon  his  appointment  to  the  Brigadier  Generalship,  G. 
J.  Pillow  hastened  to  join  the  army  and  assume  the  command 
allotted  to  him,  where  he  has  since  gained  such  imperishable 
laurels.  His  stay  in  New  Orleans  is  thus  happly  hit  off  by 
the  editor  of  a  southern  paper  ; — He  was  dressed  in  a  full  suit 
of  "  regimentals,"  with  the  brass  buttons  and  gilt  lace  pertain 
ing  to  a  "  full  brigadier,"  and  wore  his  three  cornered  cocked 
hat  after  the  most  approved  style  of  militia  musters.  He 
was  accompanied  by  his  aid,  two  servants,  and  had  along  the 
requisite  number  of  prancing  coursers,  either  for  a  charge  or 
a  retreat.  The  General  gratified  the  citizens  of  N.  O.  with  his 
horsemanship,  frequently,  during  his  stay.  Every  morning, 
his  servants  led  out  two  of  his  chargers,  elegantly  caparisoned, 


*  General  Ampudia  had  heard  that  the  Texans,  to  a  man,  had  determined 
upon  cutting  his  throat  the  first  opportunity  they  might  have ;  and  this  accounts 
for  his  consternation,  as  Lieut.  Col.  Duncan  was  taken  for  one  of  the  'b'hoys.' 


132  ANECDOTES    AND    INCIDENTS. 

and  walked  them  up  and  down  the  street,  in  front  of  the  St. 
Charles ;  and,  upon  inquiry  as  to  whose  horses  they  were, 
always  condescended  to  answer,  "  They  are  Brigadier  Gen 
eral  Pillow's,  sir — Brigadier  General  Pillow  is  gwyne  to  take 
a  ride,  sir."  The  morning  after  his  arrival,  the  Brigadier, 
accompanied  by  his  aid,  mounted  his  horse,  it  is  said,  with 
out  any  other  accident  except  twice  tripping  himself  up  with 
his  spurs,  and  gallantly  trotted  up  St.  Charles,  around  into 
Magazine  street,  where  he  halted  before  the  Picayune  office. 
The  publisher,  in  hot  haste,  rushed  to  the  door,  where,  after 
receiving  a  military  salute  from  the  Brigadier,  the  following 
racy  and  unique  dialogue  took  place ; 

"  What  is  the  price,"  says  the  Brigadier,  "  of  twelve  num 
bers  of  the  Picayune,  per  annum  ?  " 

"  Twenty  dollars,"  said  the  publisher. 

"  That  is  pretty  tall ;  however,  send  six  numbers  to  Mrs. 
Brigadier  General  Pillow,  at  Columbia,  Tennessee  ;  and  six 
to  Mr.  Brigadier  General  Pillow,  wherever  he  may  be  on 
service,  as  he  expects  to  be  on  active  duty  soon.  And,  by 
the  way,  you  can  announce  in  your  paper,  to-morrow,  that 
Brigadier  General  Pillow  has  arrived  in  the  city,  in  good 
health,  and  is,  at  present,  staying  at  the  St.  Charles." 

Overcome  with  the  announcement,  the  publisher  retreated 
to  his  room.  The  Brigadier  and  his  aid  travelled  off  in  fine 
style,  and,  as  they  turned  the  corner  of  Magazine  street,  they 
met  a  brother  soldier,  belonging  to  the  51st  regiment  of  rag 
ged  volunteers,  singing  the  new  popular  military  ballad  of — 

"  The  volunteers  to  the  war  have  gone, 
In  the  ranks  of  death  you'll  find  'em, 
With  their  little  caps  their  heads  upon, 
And  no  coat  tails  behind  'em." 


